U.S. patent application number 11/869428 was filed with the patent office on 2008-02-07 for communication system for capsule type medical apparatus, capsule type medical apparatus, and information receiver.
This patent application is currently assigned to OLYMPUS CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Manabu Fujita, Masatoshi Homan, Seiichiro Kimoto, Hironobu Takizawa, Akio Uchiyama, Takeshi Yokoi.
Application Number | 20080033257 11/869428 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33543506 |
Filed Date | 2008-02-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080033257 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yokoi; Takeshi ; et
al. |
February 7, 2008 |
COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR CAPSULE TYPE MEDICAL APPARATUS, CAPSULE
TYPE MEDICAL APPARATUS, AND INFORMATION RECEIVER
Abstract
A capsule type medical apparatus communication system of the
present invention includes a capsule type medical apparatus and an
information receiver, and the capsule type medical apparatus
transmits towards the information receiver a communication
confirmation signal which confirms the state of communication with
the information receiver, while the information receiver, when it
has received the communication confirmation signal, transmits a
communication authorization signal which authorizes the capsule
type medical apparatus to perform communication; and the capsule
type medical apparatus includes a communication control device
which transmits the information when it has received the
communication authorization signal.
Inventors: |
Yokoi; Takeshi; (Hino-shi,
JP) ; Homan; Masatoshi; (Hino-shi, JP) ;
Fujita; Manabu; (Hino-shi, JP) ; Uchiyama; Akio;
(Yokohama-shi, JP) ; Takizawa; Hironobu;
(Hachioji-shi, JP) ; Kimoto; Seiichiro;
(Hachioji-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SCULLY SCOTT MURPHY & PRESSER, PC
400 GARDEN CITY PLAZA
SUITE 300
GARDEN CITY
NY
11530
US
|
Assignee: |
OLYMPUS CORPORATION
43-2, Hatagaya 2-chome, Shibuya-ku
Tokyo
JP
151-0072
|
Family ID: |
33543506 |
Appl. No.: |
11/869428 |
Filed: |
October 9, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10874337 |
Jun 23, 2004 |
|
|
|
11869428 |
Oct 9, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
600/300 ;
600/103; 600/117 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 1/00016 20130101;
A61B 2560/0219 20130101; A61B 1/00029 20130101; A61B 1/00032
20130101; A61B 1/041 20130101; A61B 1/0002 20130101; A61B 1/00036
20130101; A61B 5/073 20130101; A61B 5/0031 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
600/300 ;
600/103; 600/117 |
International
Class: |
A61B 5/00 20060101
A61B005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 26, 2003 |
JP |
2003179647 |
Jun 1, 2004 |
JP |
2004162986 |
Claims
1. A capsule type medical apparatus, comprising, in a container
which is introduced to within a living body: an acquisition means
which acquires information about the interior of the living body; a
signal transmission means which transmits the information which has
been acquired by the acquisition means to outside the living body;
a sensor which detects information which specifies the position
and/or the attitude of the container within the living body; an
inference means which infers the state of communication with
outside the living body based upon the information which has been
detected by the sensor; and a signal transmission control means
which controls the signal transmission means, based upon the
results of inference by this inference means.
2. The capsule type medical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the sensor is a magnetic sensor which detects magnetic
direction.
3. The capsule type medical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the sensor is a gyro which detects the orientation of the
container.
4. The capsule type medical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the sensor is a gravity sensor which detects the direction of
gravity.
5. The capsule type medical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the sensor is a luminance sensor which detects the luminance within
the living body.
6. The capsule type medical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the sensor is a pH sensor which detects the pH value within the
living body.
7. A capsule type medical apparatus communication system,
comprising: the capsule type medical apparatus according to claim
1; and an antenna external to the living body, which is disposed
outside the living body, and which, along with transmitting a radio
wave towards within the living body, also receives the information
which is transmitted from the signal transmission means, wherein
the sensor is a signal reception antenna which receives the radio
wave which is transmitted from the antenna external to the living
body.
8. A capsule type medical apparatus communication system,
comprising: the capsule type medical apparatus according to claim
1; an antenna external to the living body, which is disposed
outside the living body, and which receives the information which
is transmitted from the signal transmission means; and an energy
wave transmission means which is disposes in the vicinity of the
antenna external to the living body, and which transmits an energy
wave towards within the living body, wherein: the sensor is an
energy wave reception means which receives the energy wave which
has been transmitted from the energy wave transmission means; and
the signal transmission means performs signal transmission using
electrical power which has been converted from the energy wave.
9. A capsule type medical apparatus communication system,
comprising: the capsule type medical apparatus according to claim
2; an antenna external to the living body, which is disposed
outside the living body, and which receives the information which
is transmitted from the signal transmission means; and a magnet
which is arranged in a direction which is correlated with a signal
reception direction of the antenna external to the living body.
10. A capsule type medical apparatus communication system,
comprising: the capsule type medical apparatus according to claim
3; and an antenna external to the living body, which is disposed
outside the living body, and which, along with receiving the
information which is transmitted from the signal transmission
means, also has a signal reception direction in a predetermined
direction.
11. A capsule type medical apparatus communication system,
comprising: the capsule type medical apparatus according to claim
3; and an antenna external to the living body, which is disposed
outside the living body, and which receives the information which
is transmitted from the signal transmission means.
12. The capsule type medical apparatus communication system
according to claim 7, wherein the antenna external to the living
body is arranged in a state in which it is separated from the
surface of the body by a predetermined interval distance.
13. The capsule type medical apparatus communication system
according to claim 12, wherein the antenna external to the living
body moves in a state in which the predetermined interval distance
is maintained.
28. A medical communication method comprising: acquiring
information about an inside of the living body; transmitting the
information which has been acquired to an outside of the living
body; detecting another information which specifies a location and
a direction in the living body at the time when the information is
acquired; estimating the state of communication between the inside
and the outside of the living body based upon the another
information which has been detected; and controlling a signal
transmission of the information based upon a result of the state of
communication which has been estimated.
Description
[0001] This application is a divisional application of U.S.
application Ser. No. 10/874,337 filed Jun. 23, 2004 which claims
priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-179647, filed Jun.
24, 2003 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-162986, filed
Jun. 1, 2004, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein
by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a capsule type medical
apparatus communication system, a capsule type medical apparatus,
and an information receiver which are used for inspection or the
like within a body cavity.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] In recent years, in the field of endoscopes which observe
the interior of the alimentary canal of an examinee (a patient),
there have been various proposals for capsule endoscopes of a type
which is swallowed (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined
Patent Application, First Publication No. H01-305925 and Japanese
Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. H04-109927).
These capsule endoscopes are endowed with an image formation
function and a wireless communication function.
[0006] When a capsule endoscope is swallowed by an examinee, along
with proceeding within his body along with the peristalsis of his
alimentary canal, during this time, it transmits images of the
living body under examination at a fixed frame rate by a wireless
signal. These transmitted images of the body of the patient under
examination are received and recorded by a receiver which the
examinee has attached to his body. And, after the capsule endoscope
has been excreted, a doctor or a nurse downloads the image data
which has been recorded in the receiver to a workstation, and
performs diagnosis by looking at the images of the body of the
patient under examination which are displayed upon the screen of
the workstation.
[0007] Furthermore, with a prior art capsule endoscope, the
wireless signals are transmitted in one direction only. In other
words, the structure is such that the capsule endoscope is only
endowed with a signal transmission function, and the receiver is
only endowed with a signal reception function. Yet further, the
structure is generally such that the capsule endoscope which has
been introduced into the body of the patient under examination
continues to transmit the image signals by wireless regardless of
the state of reception of signals by the receiver.
[0008] On the other hand, as methods for a patient to confirm his
own state of health, various types of inspection such as inspection
by a medical examination or endoscope inspection or the like are
generally known. Furthermore, as described above, an inspection
method with a capsule type medical apparatus which easily performs
inspection of the state of health by swallowing an inspection
device which is formed as a capsule (a capsule endoscope) is known.
Although various types of this kind of capsule type medical
apparatus are proposed, as one concrete example, there is known an
electronic endoscope device which, along with forming images of
various portions of the interior of a human body, transmits these
images of the interior of a human body which have been formed, to
an image monitor section which is disposed outside the human body
(for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application,
First Publication No. H04-109927).
[0009] This electronic endoscope device comprises an image
formation head section which, within the body of the patient, forms
images of various portions within the body of the patient, and a
and an image monitor section which is disposed outside the body of
the patient. With in a capsule shaped external surrounding
container which is made from plastic or the like, the image
formation head section includes: an objective lens which forms
images of various portions within the body of the patient; a solid
image formation element such as a CCD chip or the like; an image
processing circuit element which processes the image signals from
this solid image formation element; an integrated circuit for
signal transmission which transmits the image signals which have
been processed by this image processing circuit element to an image
monitoring circuit outside the body of the patient as a radio wave;
and a battery which supplies electrical power to a printed antenna
for this signal transmission and to various other sections.
Furthermore, these solid image formation element, image processing
circuit element, integrated circuit for signal transmission,
printed antenna, and battery are mutually connected together by a
circuit board.
[0010] When performing inspection with this electronic endoscope
device, first, in the vicinity of the image monitoring section, the
patient swallows the image formation head section. This image
formation head section which has been thus introduced within the
body of the patient forms images of various portions within his
body with the solid image formation element. The informed images
are subjected to a predetermined processing by the image processing
circuit element, and, thereafter, image signals are sent by the
integrated circuit for signal transmission to the image monitor
section via the printed antenna. And inspection is performed based
upon these image signals which have thus been sent and have
arrived.
[0011] Furthermore, as another capsule type medical apparatus,
there is known a information recording capsule which measures
information such as the temperature, the humidity, the pH, the
pressure, or the like within the body of the patient over a long
time period, and which, along with recording this information,
sends it to outside the body of the patient (for example, refer to
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No.
H01-305925).
[0012] This information recording capsule includes: a sensor which
measures the temperature, the pH, the pressure, or the like within
the body of the patient and converts them into an electrical
signal; a memory which stores the signal from this sensor; a data
processing section such as a MPU (Micro Processing Unit) or the
like which performs predetermined processing of the information
data which has been sent from the sensor and has arrived; a timer
including a clock signal generator which supplies a reference clock
signal for the data processing section to perform time measurement;
and a micro signal receiver which controls the data processing
section based upon signals from outside the body of the patient and
a micro signal transmitter which transmits the information as an
ultrasonic wave to a signal reception device or the like outside
the body of the patient.
[0013] When performing inspection by using this information
recording capsule, after the patient has swallowed the information
recording capsule, a signal is sent from a micro capsule control
device outside the body of the patient to the micro signal receiver
within the information recording capsule. When the micro signal
receiver receives the signal, along with operating the data
processing section, it stores in the memory the day of measurement,
the time of measurement, and the like from the timer, in
correspondence with the operational timing of this data processing
section. Furthermore, the data processing section detects the
information such as the pH and the like by operating the sensor,
and performs the data processing. The data processing section
stores the data after data processing in the memory section. In
other words, the memory section stores the data which has been data
processed in correspondence with the day and the time at which it
was measured. And information is sent to the external signal
receiver outside the body of the patient by the micro transmitter,
and then is inspected.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The first capsule type medical apparatus communication
system of the present invention includes a capsule type medical
apparatus communication system, including a capsule type medical
apparatus which transmits information relating to the body of an
examinee from within the body of the examinee to outside it, and an
information receiver which is disposed externally to the body of
the examinee and which receives the information, wherein: the
capsule type medical apparatus transmits towards the information
receiver a communication confirmation signal which confirms the
state of communication with the information receiver; the
information receiver, when it has received the communication
confirmation signal, transmits a communication authorization signal
which authorizes the capsule type medical apparatus to perform
communication; and the capsule type medical apparatus includes a
communication control device which transmits the information when
it has received the communication authorization signal.
[0015] The communication authorization signal may also serve as a
wireless signal which performs supply of electrical power to the
capsule type medical apparatus.
[0016] The first capsule type medical apparatus of the present
invention includes: an acquisition device which acquires
information about the body of an examinee; a signal transmission
device which transmits, towards an information receiver which is
disposed externally to the body of the examinee, the information
which has been acquired, and a communication confirmation signal
which confirms the state of communication with the information
receiver, a signal reception device which, if the communication
confirmation signal has been received, receives a wireless signal
which has been transmitted from the information receiver which
includes at least a communication authorization signal; and a
communication control device which makes a decision as to whether
or not to transmit the information, based upon the state of
reception of the communication authorization signal.
[0017] The same antenna may be used for both the signal
transmission device and the signal reception device.
[0018] The signal reception device may include an envelope wave
detection circuit.
[0019] The signal reception device may include a rectification
circuit which obtains electrical power from the wireless signal,
and a communication authorization detection section which detects
the communication authorization signal from the output of the
rectification circuit and sends it to the communication control
device.
[0020] The information receiver of the present invention includes:
a signal reception device which receives, from a capsule type
medical apparatus within the body of an examinee, information about
the body of the examinee which has been transmitted, and a
communication confirmation signal which confirms the state of
communication with the capsule type medical apparatus; a recording
section which records the information which has been received; a
communication authorization signal creation section which, when the
signal reception device has received the communication confirmation
signal, creates a communication authorization signal which
authorizes the capsule type medical apparatus to transmit the
information; and a communication authorization signal transmission
device which transmits the communication authorization signal.
[0021] The communication authorization signal may also serve as a
wireless signal which performs supply of electrical power to the
capsule type medical apparatus.
[0022] When the communication confirmation signal is not received,
the communication authorization signal transmission device may
transmit the communication authorization signal over an interval
which is longer than the signal transmission interval of the
communication confirmation signal.
[0023] The second capsule type medical apparatus of the present
invention includes, in a container which is introduced to within a
living body: an acquisition device which acquires information about
the interior of the living body, a signal transmission device which
transmits the information which has been acquired by the
acquisition device to outside the living body; a sensor which
detects information which specifies the position and/or the
attitude of the container within the living body; an inference
device which infers the state of communication with outside the
living body based upon the information which has been detected by
the sensor; and a signal transmission control device which controls
the signal transmission device, based upon the results of inference
by this inference device.
[0024] As the sensor, a magnetic sensor which detects magnetic
direction may be used.
[0025] As the sensor, a gyro which detects the orientation of the
container may be used.
[0026] As the sensor, a gravity sensor which detects the direction
of gravity may be used.
[0027] As the sensor, a luminance sensor which detects the
luminance within the living body may be used.
[0028] As the sensor, a pH sensor which detects the pH value within
the living body may be used.
[0029] The second capsule type medical apparatus communication
system of the present invention includes the second capsule type
medical apparatus, and an antenna external to the living body,
which is disposed outside the living body, and which receives the
information which is transmitted from the signal transmission
device; and, here, the sensor is a signal reception antenna which
receives the radio wave which is transmitted from the antenna
external to the living body.
[0030] The third capsule type medical apparatus communication
system of the present invention includes: the second type of
capsule type medical apparatus; an antenna external to the living
body, which is disposed outside the living body, and which receives
the information which is transmitted from the signal transmission
device; and an energy wave transmission device which is disposes in
the vicinity of the antenna external to the living body, and which
transmits an energy wave towards within the living body; and, here,
the sensor is an energy wave reception device which receives the
energy wave which has been transmitted from the energy wave
transmission device; and the signal transmission device performs
signal transmission using electrical power which has been converted
from the energy wave.
[0031] The fourth capsule type medical apparatus communication
system of the present invention includes: the second capsule type
medical apparatus, of which the sensor is a magnetic sensor; an
antenna external to the living body, which is disposed outside the
living body, and which receives the information which is
transmitted from the signal transmission device; and a magnet which
is arranged in a direction which is correlated with a signal
reception direction of the antenna external to the living body.
[0032] The fifth capsule type medical apparatus communication
system of the present invention includes: the second capsule type
medical apparatus, of which the sensor is a gyro; and an antenna
external to the living body, which is disposed outside the living
body, and which, along with receiving the information which is
transmitted from the signal transmission device, also has a signal
reception direction in a predetermined direction.
[0033] The sixth capsule type medical apparatus communication
system of the present invention includes: the second capsule type
medical apparatus, of which the sensor is a luminance sensor; and
an antenna external to the living body, which is disposed outside
the living body, and which receives the information which is
transmitted from the signal transmission device.
[0034] With the above described second through sixth capsule type
medical apparatus communication systems, the antenna external to
the living body may be arranged in a state in which it is separated
from the surface of the living body by a predetermined interval
distance.
[0035] In this case, the antenna external to the living body may
move in a state in which the predetermined interval distance is
maintained.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0036] FIG. 1 is an overall structural view showing a capsule type
medical apparatus communication system according to the first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0037] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a capsule endoscope which is a
structural element of the capsule type medical apparatus
communication system.
[0038] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the structure of a
receiver which is another structural element of the capsule type
medical apparatus communication system.
[0039] FIGS. 4A and 4B are flow charts showing the communication
operation between a capsule endoscope and a receiver, when
obtaining information relating to an examinee by the capsule type
medical apparatus communication system.
[0040] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a capsule endoscope according
to a second embodiment of the present invention.
[0041] FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of and around a signal reception
antenna in the capsule endoscope.
[0042] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a capsule endoscope according
to a third embodiment of the present invention.
[0043] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the capsule endoscope.
[0044] FIG. 9 is a general view showing a capsule endoscope
communication system and a capsule endoscope according to a fourth
embodiment of the present invention.
[0045] FIG. 10 is a figure showing the state of communication by
the capsule endoscope communication system with a capsule endoscope
within a human body.
[0046] FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the capsule endoscope.
[0047] FIG. 12 is a view showing an air mat which includes an
antenna external to the body which is used in the capsule endoscope
communication system.
[0048] FIG. 13 is a sectional view of abdominal of an examinee,
when the air mat is fitted to the vicinity of the abdomen of the
patient.
[0049] FIG. 14 is a sectional view of abdominal of an examinee,
showing the situation in which the capsule endoscope is positioned
in the stomach of the examinee.
[0050] FIG. 15 is a flow chart when communicating with the capsule
endoscope with this capsule endoscope communication system.
[0051] FIG. 16 is a general view showing a capsule endoscope
communication system and a capsule endoscope according to a fifth
embodiment of the present invention.
[0052] FIG. 17 is a view showing the situation of communication by
the capsule endoscope communication system with the capsule
endoscope within the body of an examinee.
[0053] FIG. 18 is a sectional view of the capsule endoscope.
[0054] FIG. 19 is a general view showing a capsule endoscope
communication system and a capsule endoscope according to a sixth
embodiment of the present invention.
[0055] FIG. 20 is a view showing the situation of communication by
the capsule endoscope communication system with the capsule
endoscope within the body of an examinee.
[0056] FIG. 21 is a sectional view of the capsule endoscope.
[0057] FIG. 22 is a general view showing a capsule endoscope
communication system and a capsule endoscope according to a seventh
embodiment of the present invention.
[0058] FIG. 23 is a sectional view of the capsule endoscope.
[0059] FIG. 24 is a general view showing a capsule endoscope
communication system and a capsule endoscope according to a eighth
embodiment of the present invention.
[0060] FIG. 25 is a sectional view of the capsule endoscope.
[0061] FIG. 26 is a general view showing a capsule endoscope
communication system and a capsule endoscope according to a ninth
embodiment of the present invention.
[0062] FIG. 27 is a figure showing a mat which is used in the
capsule endoscope communication system.
[0063] FIG. 28 is a sectional view of abdominal of an examinee,
showing a patient when this mat is fitted to that patient.
[0064] FIG. 29 is a general view showing a capsule endoscope
communication system and a capsule endoscope according to a tenth
embodiment of the present invention.
[0065] FIG. 30 is a frontal view showing a shifting mechanism which
is a structural element of a communication device which is used in
this capsule endoscope communication system, and which is provided
within a chair.
[0066] FIGS. 31A and 31B show a variant example of the
communication device shown in FIG. 29; FIG. 31A is a side view of
the chair, and FIG. 31B is a frontal view of an antenna array.
[0067] FIG. 32 shows a variant example of the air mat shown in FIG.
12, and is a figure showing the state in which this mat is fitted
to an examinee.
[0068] FIG. 33 is a perspective view showing the mat.
[0069] FIG. 34 is a view showing a variant example of the mat.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
First Embodiment
[0070] In the following, a capsule type medical apparatus
communication system, a capsule type medical apparatus, and an
information receiver according to the first embodiment of the
present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1
through 4A and 4B.
[0071] As shown in FIG. 1, the capsule type medical apparatus
communication system 1 according to the present embodiment is
capable of detecting information, and includes: a capsule endoscope
(a capsule type medical apparatus) 2 which transmits information
about a examinee A (i.e., about the body of an examinee) from
within the body of the examinee to outside that body; a receiver
(an information receiver) 3 which is provided externally to the
body of the examinee and which receives an image signal, which
constitutes the information, which has been transmitted from the
capsule endoscope 2; and a workstation 4 for displaying image data
which has been recorded in this receiver 3.
[0072] The capsule endoscope 2 transmits a communication
confirmation signal for confirming its state of communication with
the receiver 3, and the receiver 3, when it has received this
communication confirmation signal, transmits a communication
authorization signal for authorizing the communication of the
information. Furthermore, the capsule endoscope 2 transmits the
information, when it has received the communication authorization
signal. The details of these matters will be explained
hereinafter.
[0073] The above described capsule endoscope 2 is one which can be
swallowed by an examinee A, and it is thus introduced to within the
body of this examinee A and obtains (detects) the information.
Moreover, in the present embodiment, the case will be explained in
which the above described information is an image (an image signal)
of the interior of the alimentary canal of the examinee A.
[0074] The capsule endoscope 2 of the present embodiment, as shown
in FIG. 2, includes an acquisition device 10 which acquires an
image (the information), a signal transmission device 11 which
transmits an image which has been acquired and the above described
communication confirmation signal to the receiver 3, a signal
reception device 12 which receives a wireless signal including at
least the above described communication authorization signal which
has been transmitted from the receiver 3 upon receipt of the
communication confirmation signal, and a communication control
section (a communication control device) 13 which decides whether
or not to transmit images, based upon the state of reception of the
communication authorization signal. These structural elements are
housed within a casing 14.
[0075] The casing 14 includes a capsule shaped container 15 and a
transparent cover 16 which is made from a transparent material for
image formation. Furthermore, in the interior of the casing 14,
there are housed: LEDs 17 for illuminating the interior of the body
of the patient; an objective lens 18 which forms an image of the
interior of the body of the patient, in other words, which forms an
image of the region within the body of the patient which is the
subject of observation; a solid-state imager 19 which forms an
image of the interior of the body of the patient; a memory 20 which
stores the image which has been formed; an image formation section
control device 21 which controls the above described LEDs 17 and
the above described solid-state imager 19; a modulator 22 which
modulates the image signal for transmission; a demodulator 23 which
demodulates the above described communication authorization signal,
which is a control signal which is transmitted from the receiver 3
by wireless; a signal processing circuit 24 which changes the image
signal which has been formed by the solid-state imager 19 into an
appropriate format for transmission, and performs predetermined
processing upon the above described communication authorization
signal; an antenna 25 which performs transmission and reception of
various types of signal between the above described communication
control section 13 and the receiver 3; a changeover switch 26 which
performs connection changeover so as to connect one or another of
the modulator 22 and the demodulator 23 to the antenna 25; a
battery 27 and a power source circuit 28 which supply power to each
of the abovementioned structural elements; and a power source
switch 29 which controls whether or not the capsule endoscope 2 is
operated.
[0076] The LEDs 17, the objective lens 18, the solid-state imager
19, and the image formation section control device 21 constitute
the above described acquisition device 10. Furthermore, the antenna
25, the changeover switch 26, and the modulator 22 constitute the
above described signal transmission device 11, while the antenna
25, the changeover switch 26, and the demodulator 23 constitute the
above described signal reception device 12. Yet further, as
described above, the signal transmission device 11 and the signal
reception device 12 both use the same antenna 25 and change it over
by the changeover switch 26.
[0077] The above described objective lens 18 is provided upon the
interior side of the transparent cover 16, and the above described
solid-state imager 19 such as a CCD imager or the like, is disposed
at the image focusing position of the objective lens 18.
Furthermore, the above described LEDs 17 which are, for example
white in color are arranged in a plurality around the periphery of
the objective lens 18 as illumination elements. Moreover, the
solid-state imager 19 converts the image which has been focused by
the objective lens 18 into an electronic signal, and the image
which has been formed by this solid-state imager 19 is subjected to
predetermined processing such as image processing or the like by
the signal processing circuit 24, and then is transmitted from the
antenna 25 after having been sent to the above described modulator
22 (which is disposed at the rear portion of the capsule endoscope
2).
[0078] The antenna 25 also has a role of a signal reception antenna
which receives the communication authorization signal, which is the
control signal from the receiver 3. When the communication state
between the capsule endoscope 2 and the receiver 3 is good, the
communication authorization signal which has been transmitted from
the receiver 3 to the capsule endoscope 2 is received by the
antenna 25. This communication authorization signal which has been
received is transmitted to the communication control section 13
after having been demodulated by the demodulator 23. And, along
with recognizing this communication authorization signal which has
been transmitted, the communication control section 13 also, based
upon the results thereof, makes a decision as to whether or not to
transmit an image as a signal, and performs control of the above
described signal transmission device 11.
[0079] The above described receiver 3, as shown in FIG. 3,
includes: an external device 30 which performs demodulation and
recording and the like of the various signals which have been
transmitted from the capsule endoscope 2 (the image signal or the
communication confirmation signal); a signal reception antenna unit
32 which includes a plurality of signal reception antennas 31a,
31b, . . . for receiving the various signals; and a signal antenna
for transmission 33 for transmitting the communication
authorization signal.
[0080] Furthermore, the receiver 3 of the present embodiment
includes: a signal reception device 35 which receives the above
described image signal (the information) and communication
confirmation signal; a recording section 36 which records the image
signal which has been received; a communication authorization
signal creation section 37 which creates a communication
authorization signal which, when the signal reception device 35 has
received the communication confirmation signal, authorizes the
capsule endoscope 2 to transmit a signal containing the
information; and a communication authorization signal transmission
device 38 which transmits the communication authorization signal
which has been created.
[0081] Each of the signals which have been received by the above
described signal reception antenna unit 32 is demodulated by a
signal reception circuit 40. The demodulated output S1 which is
outputted from this signal reception circuit 40 is transmitted to a
signal processing circuit 41, and processing is performed according
to the type of the signal. Furthermore, a received signal intensity
signal S2 which is outputted from the signal reception circuit 40
is transmitted to a selection control section 42. From the received
signal intensity signal S2 which has been transmitted, the
selection control section 42 compares together the signal reception
intensity for the various antennas 31a, 31b, . . . for signal
reception, and then selects an antenna which is the most suitable
for signal reception. And, based upon the result of selection, the
selection control section 42 controls the changeover switch 43 to
perform actual antenna changeover.
[0082] If the signal which has been received by the signal
reception antenna unit 32 is an image signal which has been
transmitted from the capsule endoscope 2, then it is subjected to
processing by the signal processing circuit 41 such as adjustment
of the image data, compression, and the like, and the image data
after the processing is recorded in the recording section 36 via
the control section 45. As the recording section 36, for example, a
transportable recording medium may be used.
[0083] On the other hand, if the signal which has been received is
a communication confirmation signal which has been transmitted from
the capsule endoscope 2, then, after the control section 45 has
recognized the communication confirmation signal, this control
section directs the communication authorization signal creation
section 37 to generate a communication authorization signal which
authorizes the capsule endoscope 2 to transmit an image signal. The
communication authorization signal which has been created by the
communication authorization signal creation section 37 is
transmitted from the antenna 33 for signal transmission after
having been modulated by the signal transmission circuit 46.
[0084] Furthermore, the various types of information such as
information about the examinee A (the patient), error information,
and the like are displayed upon a display section 47 and the
workstation 4 by the control of the control section 45. Yet
further, the electrical voltages which are required by each of the
functional blocks of the receiver 3 are supplied from an electrical
power supply section 48.
[0085] The above described signal-reception circuit 40, signal
processing circuit 41, selection control section 42, changeover
switch 43, control section 45, recording section 36, communication
authorization signal creation section 37, signal transmission
circuit 46, display section 47, and electrical power supply section
48 constitute the above described external device 30.
[0086] Furthermore, the signal reception antenna unit 32, the
changeover switch 43, and the signal reception circuit 40
constitute the above described signal reception device 35, while
the antenna 33 for signal transmission and the signal transmission
circuit 46 constitute the above described communication
authorization signal transmission device 38.
[0087] The acquisition of the information for an examinee A, in
other words, the acquisition of an image of the interior of his
alimentary canal, by the capsule type medical apparatus
communication system 1 constituted in this manner will now be
explained with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B.
[0088] The capsule endoscope 2 which has been introduced to within
the body of the examinee A performs image formation operation at a
timing which is determined by the image formation section control
device 21, and the image data which has been formed is recorded
into the memory 20 (S1). After this, the capsule endoscope 2 turns
the modulator 22 ON (S2), and transmits a communication
confirmation signal for deciding whether or not the state of
communication with the receiver 3 is satisfactory (S3).
[0089] Moreover, since the intensity of the communication
confirmation signal is roughly equal to the intensity when
transmitting the image signal, accordingly, when it is possible to
receive the communication confirmation signal, the receiver 3 makes
a decision that it is also possible to receive the image signal.
Furthermore, it is desirable for the communication confirmation
signal to be made up according to a fixed pattern, so that the
receiver 3 can distinguish it from external noise which it
receives. However, the format of the communication control signal
is not limited to this; for example, it would also be acceptable to
utilize a non modulated signal as the communication confirmation
signal, and to decide whether or not the communication confirmation
signal has been transmitted by checking the intensity of signal
reception on the side of the receiver 3.
[0090] When the transmission of the above described communication
confirmation signal has been completed, then the modulator 22 is
turned into the OFF state (S4).
[0091] On the other hand, the receiver 3 goes into a signal
reception waiting state until it receives a communication
confirmation signal or an image signal (S30). If a communication
confirmation signal is received (YES in S31) during the signal
reception wait, then the receiver 3 transmits a communication
authorization signal to the capsule endoscope 2 (S32). Moreover, it
is desirable for the communication authorization signal, just like
the communication confirmation signal, to be made up from a fixed
pattern, so that it can be distinguished from external noise.
However, the format of the communication authorization signal is
not limited to this.
[0092] And, after having transmitted the communication
authorization signal, the receiver 3 again returns to the signal
reception wait state (S30).
[0093] After transmitting the communication confirmation signal
(S3), the capsule endoscope 2 goes into the signal reception wait
state (S5) for a fixed interval until it is anticipated that a
communication authorization signal will come back. If, in this
interval, a communication authorization signal has been received
(YES in S6), then a decision is made as to whether or not the
communication control section 13 is to transmit an image signal,
and if it is decided that such signal transmission is taking place
then control of the signal transmission device 11 is performed so
as to transmit the image signal; in other words, along with
converting the image data which has been stored in the memory 20 to
image data for signal transmission which is suitable for signal
transmission (S7) by the signal processing circuit 24, the
modulator 22 is put into the ON state by control by the signal
processing circuit 24 (S8). And, after the image data for signal
transmission has been modulated by the modulator 22, it is
transmitted from the antenna 25 (S9). Furthermore, after the image
data for signal transmission has been transmitted, the modulator 22
again goes into the OFF state (S10), and also the image data is
deleted from the memory 20 (S11).
[0094] On the other hand, if the communication authorization signal
is not received within the fixed interval (NO in S6), then the
modulator 22 stays in the OFF state just as it is, and awaits the
next image formation timing.
[0095] When an image signal is transmitted from the capsule
endoscope 2 (S9), the receiver 3, along with receiving the image
signal by the signal reception device 12 (YES in S33), also
performs prescribed processing such as image compression or the
like with the signal processing circuit 24 (S34), and, along with
recording the data after processing in the recording section 36
(S35), also displays it upon the display section 47 or the
workstation 4.
[0096] Moreover, the image which is stored in the memory 20 of the
capsule endoscope 2 is not limited to a single frame; it is also
possible that a plurality of image frames are stored in the memory
20, and, when the communication authorization signal has been
confirmed, this plurality of frames of image data are transmitted
continuously.
[0097] By looking at these images which have been displayed, or at
images which have been recorded in the recording section 36, a
doctor or the like can diagnose the state of the health or the like
of the examinee A.
[0098] As has been described above, according to the capsule type
medical apparatus communication system 1, the capsule endoscope 2,
and the receiver 3 of the present embodiment, it is possible to
perform signal transmission or signal reception of image signals,
which are the information, when the communication state between the
capsule endoscope 2 and the receiver 3 is satisfactory. That is,
before transmitting the image signals, the capsule endoscope 2
performs transmission of the communication confirmation signal.
And, when the receiver 3 has received the communication
confirmation signal, i.e. when the communication state of both
sides is satisfactory, the receiver 3 transmits the communication
authorization signal which authorizes communication of the image
signals. Since the capsule endoscope 2 starts to transmit the image
signals upon receipt of the communication authorization signal,
accordingly, it is possible for the image signals to be reliably
transmitted to the receiver 3. Accordingly, waste of electrical
power does not take place, since the capsule endoscope 2 does not
transmit image data (the image signals) when the receiver 3 cannot
receive the image signals.
[0099] Furthermore, since the receiver 3 can obtain the image
signals reliably, accordingly, there is no loss of acquired images
due to poor communications. Due to this, it is possible to perform
diagnosis of the state of health or the like of the examinee A in a
reliable manner.
[0100] Furthermore if, for example, a structure is employed in
which a plurality of frames of image data are stored in the memory
20, and they are all transmitted together when it is has been
possible to receive the communication authorization signal, then it
is possible to reduce the number of image frames or the like which
are not received by the receiver 3, even though they have been
transmitted from the capsule endoscope 2.
Second Embodiment
[0101] Next, a capsule type medical apparatus according to the
second embodiment of the present invention will be explained with
reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. Moreover, in the present embodiment, to
structural elements which are the same as in the above described
first embodiment, the same reference symbols will be affixed, and
their explanation will be omitted.
[0102] The point of difference between the above described first
embodiment and the present embodiment is that, by contrast with the
capsule endoscope 2 of the above described first embodiment in
which the common antenna 25 was employed when receiving the
communication authorization signal, with the capsule endoscope
(capsule type medical apparatus) 50 of the present embodiment, the
signal reception device 12 includes a separate coil shaped antenna
51 which receives the communication authorization signal.
[0103] In other words, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the capsule
endoscope 50 of the present embodiment includes, within the casing
14, the above described coil shaped antenna 51, and a received
signal detection circuit (an envelope wave detection circuit) 52
for detecting the communication authorization signal from the
signal which has been received by this coil shaped antenna 51.
[0104] The operation of the above described received signal
detection circuit 52 when the communication authorization signal
has been transmitted from the receiver 3 to the capsule endoscope
50 constituted in the above described manner will now be explained
referring to FIG. 6.
[0105] When the communication authorization signal reaches, an
electrical potential with respect to the ground of the coil shaped
antenna 51 as a reference is generated. And, when a sufficient
electrical potential difference is generated between both ends of a
diode 55, this diode 55 goes into the ON state, and electrical
charge starts to accumulate in a condenser 56. Furthermore, a
resistor 57 releases the electric charge which has accumulated in
the condenser 56 to ground. Accordingly, the electrical potential
at the upper end of the condenser 56 rises with a time constant
which is determined by the values of the condenser 56 and the
resistor 57. Furthermore, a comparator 58 compares together the
electrical potential at the upper end of the condenser 56 and a
standard electrical potential which is created by a reference
voltage generator 59. In other words, it is possible to perform
detection of the communication authorization signal by checking the
output of the comparator 58.
[0106] As has been described above, the capsule endoscope 50 of the
present embodiment is able to keep the consumption of electrical
power low, since the greater portion of the received signal
detection circuit 52 is made up from passive components.
Furthermore, it is possible to make the device more compact, since
the number of components is low.
[0107] Moreover, in the present embodiment, it is possible for the
communication authorization signal which is transmitted from the
receiver 3 to be kept small in comparison to the communication
confirmation signal which is transmitted from the capsule endoscope
50, for example to around a few tens of KHz. By using this type of
low frequency, it is possible to keep small the attenuation when it
arrives from outside the body of the patient to within it.
Third Embodiment
[0108] Next, a capsule type medical apparatus according to the
third embodiment of the present invention will be explained with
reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. It should be understood that, in the
explanation of the present embodiment, to structural elements which
are the same as in the above described first embodiment and the
above described second embodiment, the same reference symbols will
be affixed, and their explanation will be omitted.
[0109] The point of difference between the above described first
embodiment and the present embodiment is that, by contrast with the
capsule endoscope 2 of the above described first embodiment which
was operated with a battery 27 which was internally housed, with
the capsule endoscope (capsule type medical apparatus) 60 of the
present embodiment, it is operated by receiving a supply of
electrical power from the receiver 3 by wireless.
[0110] In other words, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, with the capsule
endoscope 60 of the present embodiment, the signal reception device
12 includes a coil shaped antenna 61 for signal reception which
receives electrical power which is transmitted from outside the
body of the patient, and an electrical power signal reception
section 62.
[0111] In the present embodiment, the communication authorization
signal also serves as an electrical power signal (a wireless
signal) for supplying electrical power to the capsule medical
apparatus 60. It should be understood that the method of supply of
electrical power is not to be construed as being limited to this
one; for example, it would be acceptable to provide an electrical
power supply device outside the body of the patient, and to supply
electrical power to the capsule endoscope 60 by wireless from this
electrical power supply device; or, along with the receiver 3 also
serving as an electrical power supply device, to make it possible
for the signal for electrical power supply to be transmitted from
the antenna 33 for signal transmission separately from the
communication authorization signal.
[0112] As shown in FIG. 8, the above described electrical power
signal reception section 62 includes a rectification circuit 63 for
obtaining electrical power from the communication authorization
signal, and a communication authorization detection section 64
which detects the communication authorization signal from the
output of this rectification circuit 63 and sends it to the
communication control section 13. Moreover, the rectification
circuit 63 has the same structure as the received signal detection
circuit 52 of the second embodiment described above.
[0113] The operation of the electrical power signal reception
section 62 when the communication authorization signal has been
transmitted from the receiver 3 to the capsule endoscope 60 which
possesses this type of structure will now be explained with
reference to FIG. 8.
[0114] The communication authorization signal (which also serves
for electrical power supply) which has been send from the receiver
3 is converted into a voltage by the coil shaped antenna 61 and is
rectified by a rectification circuit 63. A communication
authorization detection section 64 makes a decision as to whether
or not the communication authorization signal is being transmitted
from the output of the rectification circuit 63, and then sends the
result thereof to the communication control section 13. Only if the
communication authorization signal has been detected, the
communication control section 13 operates the signal processing
circuit 24 and the modulator 22 and transmits an image signal.
Furthermore, the output of the rectification circuit 63 is
temporarily accumulated in an accumulation section 65, and is
supplied to the various structural elements after having been
stabilized by a power source circuit 66.
[0115] Since, as has been described above, according to the capsule
endoscope of the present embodiment, as it is possible to receive
supply of electrical power via the communication authorization
signal, it is possible to eliminate electrical power failures, such
as elimination of the battery and the like. Thus, there is no
problem with service life, and it is possible reliably to obtain an
image of the interior of the body of the patient, which is the
information. Furthermore, it is not necessary to provide any
separate detection circuit, since the communication authorization
detection section 64 detects the communication authorization signal
from the output of the rectification circuit 63. Accordingly, the
manufacture is easy, and it is possible to anticipate an
enhancement of compactness. In particular, as the communication
authorization signal also serves as the wireless signal for
supplying an electrical power, only one transmission device is
enough, and furthermore, the receiver 3 can be configured easily,
and then the compactness can be improved.
[0116] In the present embodiment, since the capsule endoscope 60 is
operated by receiving supply of electrical power from an external
source, if the communication confirmation signal is not received by
the receiver 3 from the capsule endoscope 60, two possibilities can
be considered as a cause thereof. In other words, there are the
following two possibilities: the possibility that the state of
communication is not satisfactory, and the possibility that the
capsule endoscope 60 is not operating due to insufficiency of
electrical power.
[0117] In order to prevent insufficiency of electrical power for
the capsule endoscope 60, when the communication confirmation
signal is not received, it is desirable to set the communication
authorization signal transmission device 38 of the receiver 3 so
that the communication authorization signal is transmitted over an
interval which is longer than the interval over which the
communication confirmation signal is transmitted from the capsule
endoscope 60. In this case, it is possible to supply electrical
power to the capsule endoscope 60 in a timely manner, and it is
possible to prevent non-transmission of the communication
confirmation signal due to interruption of electrical power.
Accordingly, it becomes possible reliably to obtain an image of the
interior of the body of the patient.
Fourth Embodiment
[0118] The capsule type medical apparatus and the capsule type
medical apparatus communication system according to the fourth
embodiment of the present invention will now be explained below
with reference to FIGS. 9 through 15.
[0119] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the capsule endoscope
communication system (capsule type medical apparatus communication
system) 101 of the present embodiment includes a capsule endoscope
(capsule type medical apparatus) 110 which can be swallowed by a
patient Aa, and an antenna external to the body of the patient 130
which is disposed outside the body (outside the living body) and
which transmits a radio wave Ba toward within the body of the
patient.
[0120] The above described capsule endoscope 110 is introduced to
within the body of the patient Aa and detects information (the
information), and includes a capsule shaped vessel (container) 111
shown in FIG. 11. Within this vessel 111, there are housed: an
image formation section (acquisition device) 112 which, by forming
an image of the interior of the body of the patient, acquires the
image which has been formed, which is the information; a memory 113
which stores the formed image which has been acquired by the image
formation section 112; a signal transmission section (signal
transmission device) 114 which transmits the formed image which has
been stored in the memory 113 to outside the body of the patient; a
signal reception antenna (sensor) 115 which detects a radio wave
(information) Ba for specifying its own position and attitude; a
comparison circuit (inference device) 116 which infers the
communication state with an antenna external to the body of the
patient 130 which is disposed externally to the body of the
patient, based upon the radio wave Ba which have been detected by
this signal reception antenna 115; and a signal transmission
control section (signal transmission control device) 117 which
controls the signal transmission section 114, based upon the
results of inference by this comparison circuit 116.
[0121] The above described vessel 111 is made from a material such
as plastic or the like, and is formed so that its interior is
closed, while it is provided with a transparent cover 111a at its
one end side. With the transparent cover 111a, there is disposed an
objective lens 118 which focuses an image of a subject body for
observation, such as some region within the body of the patient or
the like, and which is fitted into a lens frame 118a; and, at the
position of the focused image, there is disposed an image formation
element 119 which performs image formation, such as for example a
CMOS imager or the like. This objective lens 118 and image
formation element 119 constitute the above described image
formation section 112.
[0122] Furthermore, as illumination elements, white colored LEDs
120, for example, are disposed around the objective lens 118.
Moreover, on the rear side of the image formation element 119,
there are disposed a processing section 121 which, along with
driving the white colored LEDs 120, also performs driving of the
image formation element 119 and processing of the image formation
data and the like, and the above described memory 113. Furthermore,
adjacent to the memory 113, there are also disposed the above
described comparison circuit 116, signal transmission control
section 117, signal transmitter 114a, signal transmission antenna
114b, and signal reception antenna 115. These structural elements
described above are mutually connected together by a flexible
printed circuit board 122, and the electrical power which they
required is supplied by a battery 123. Furthermore, the signal
transmitter 114a and the signal transmission antenna 114b
constitute the above described signal transmission section 114.
[0123] The above described signal reception antenna 115 is endowed
with the function of receiving the radio wave Ba which has been
transmitted from the antenna external to the body of the patient
130, and of sending it to the comparison circuit 116. The
comparison circuit 116, along with converting the radio wave Ba
which has been transmitted into a signal value proportional to the
level of the received signal, also compares this signal value and a
threshold value which has been set in advance; and, if the value of
the signal is the same value as or greater than the threshold
value, infers that the state of communication with the antenna
external to the body of the patient 130 is satisfactory. And the
comparison circuit 116 has the function of transmitting the
inference results which have been inferred to the signal
transmission control section 117.
[0124] The signal transmission control section 117 performs the
final determination as to whether or not to communicate, based upon
the results of inference of the comparison circuit 116, then
controls the signal transmitter 114a. For example, if the results
of inference which have been sent from the comparison circuit 116
are the results showing the satisfactory communication states, then
it operates the signal transmitter 114a. The signal transmitter
114a has the function of transmitting the formed image which is
stored within the memory 113 as a signal to outside the body of the
patient via the signal transmission antenna 114b as a radio wave
Ca.
[0125] As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the above described antenna
external to the body of the patient 130, for example, is fitted in
plurality to an air mat 140 which can be attached to and removed
from the patient Aa, so as to be spaced at a prescribed interval
distance ha from the surface of the body of the patient.
[0126] The air mat 140 is made in the form of a belt, and connector
141 such as Velcro fasteners or the like are provided upon the
front and rear surfaces of both end sides thereof. By this, it is
possible for the patient Aa, for example, to wind it around the
vicinity of his abdomen and fix it there. Furthermore, air can be
blown into the interior of the air mat 140 from an air injection
hole 142. In other words, the air mat 140 is fitted to the patient
Aa by, after fixing it by winding it around the vicinity of his
abdomen as has been described above, injecting air into its
interior from the air injection hole 142. At this time, the outer
side surface of the air mat 140 is in a state of being separated
from the surface of the body of the patient Aa by just a prescribed
interval distance ha.
[0127] Furthermore, a plurality of the above described antennas
external to the body of the patient 130 are fitted upon the outer
surface of the air mat 140 in agreement with the direction of the
plane of polarization. Cables not shown in the figures are
connected to these antennas external to the body of the patient
130, and these are all collected together into a plug portion 143,
so that they can be connected to a recording device 145 which will
be described later. Furthermore, the antennas external to the body
of the patient 130 also have the function of receiving the radio
wave Ca, i.e. of the formed image, which has been transmitted from
the signal transmission section 114 of the capsule endoscope
110.
[0128] Yet further, the air mat 140 is made so that the recording
device 145 shown in FIG. 9 may be fitted thereto. A receptacle not
shown in the figures, to which the above described plug 143 can be
connected, is provided to the recording device 145. By this, the
recording device 145 is capable of recording a formed image which
has been received by the antennas external to the body of the
patient 130 in an internal memory not shown in the figures. It is
possible to perform observation of the state of health of the
patient Aa by performing prescribed processing upon the formed
image which has been accumulated in the memory.
[0129] The method of taking the formed image, which is the
information for the patient Aa, from the capsule endoscope 110 by
communicating from the antennas external to the body of the patient
130 to the capsule endoscope 110 by the capsule endoscope
communication system 101 having the above described structure, will
now be explained with reference to FIG. 15 etc.
[0130] First, as shown in FIG. 9, the patient Aa swallows the
capsule endoscope 110 so as to insert it to within his body. While
the capsule endoscope 110 which has thus been inserted to within
the body of the patient moves within his alimentary canal, along
with illuminating the interior of his body with the white colored
LEDs 120 which are housed within the vessel 111 as shown in FIG.
11, forms images of the interior of the body of the patient by the
image formation element 119 periodically, for example at intervals
of a fixed time period. These images which have been formed are
subjected to prescribed processing by the processing section 121,
and then are stored in the memory 113. In this manner, the capsule
endoscope 110 moves within the alimentary canal while acquiring
information about the interior of the body of the patient at
random, from when it is ingested through his mouth to when it is
excreted.
[0131] During this period, the images which are formed are
sequentially accumulated in the memory 113.
[0132] Here, the acquisition of the formed images from the capsule
endoscope A is performed after a certain time period has elapsed
from when the patient Aa swallows the capsule endoscope 110. In the
present embodiment, for example, acquisition of the formed images
is performed after the capsule endoscope A has passed to within his
stomach. First, as shown in FIG. 9, the patient Aa attaches the air
mat 140 to which the antennas external to his body 130 are fitted
by winding it around the vicinity of his abdomen. At this time, the
air mat 140 is fitted so that a certain gap is left between the air
mat 140 and his body. After the fitting, air is injected from an
air supply source such as an air pump or the like into the air
injection hole 142, and thereby the air mat 140 is tightened about
the body of the patient Aa. Then, as shown in FIG. 13, the antennas
external to the body of the patient 130 will be in a reliably fixed
state, and moreover to be in a state of being separated from the
surface of the body of the patient by a prescribed distance ha.
[0133] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 9, the recording device 145 is
fitted to the air mat 140 and is connected to the plug 143.
[0134] After the air mat 140 has been fitted, upon the operation of
a switch not shown in the figures, a radio wave Ba is transmitted
from the antennas external to the body of the patient 130 to within
his body (the step S1a in FIG. 15). At this time, the radio wave Ba
is transmitted simultaneously from the plurality of antennas
external to the body of the patient 130. According to its position
and its attitude, the signal reception antenna 115 of the capsule
endoscope A receives the radio wave Ba from the closest one of the
antennas external to the body of the patient 130 (in the step S2a).
Furthermore, along with receiving the radio wave Ba, the signal
reception antenna 115 transmits the radio wave Ba to the comparison
circuit 116 (in the step S3a). The comparison circuit 116, along
with converting the radio wave Ba which has been transmitted and
which it has received into a signal value according to the level of
the received signal (in the step S4a), also compares this signal
value and a threshold value which has been set in advance (in the
step S5a).
[0135] If the result of the comparison is that the value of the
signal is smaller than the threshold value, then the comparison
circuit 116 infers that the state of communication with the antenna
external to the body of the patient 130 is satisfactory (in the
step S6a). For example, as shown in FIG. 14, if an internal organ
for which the amount of blood flow is great (the liver or the like)
or bone or the like is present between the capsule endoscope 110
and the antenna external to the body of the patient 130, which is
the radio wave attenuation region, then, since the level of the
radio wave Ba which is received is low, it is inferred that the
state of communication is not satisfactory. It should be understood
that, if the communication state is poor, the radio wave Ba does
not reach from the antenna external to the body of the patient 130,
and the signal reception antenna 115 does not receive the radio
wave Ba.
[0136] The comparison circuit 116 transmits the result of the
inference that the communication state is not satisfactory to the
signal transmission control section 117. The signal transmission
control section 117 receives the result, and performs the final
decision not to perform communication (in the step S7a). In this
case, after the decision, the signal transmission control section
117 does not operate the signal transmission section 114.
[0137] On the other hand, if the value of the signal is the same or
greater than the value as the threshold value, then the comparison
circuit 116 infers that the state of communication with the antenna
external to the body of the patient 130 is satisfactory (in the
step S8a). In other words, it infers that the state of
communication is satisfactory by receiving a radio wave Ba of high
output. The comparison circuit 116 transmits the fact that the
state of communication is satisfactory to the signal transmission
control section 117. The signal transmission control section 117
receives the result, and thereby makes the final decision to
perform communication, and then operates the signal transmitter
114a (in the step S9a). Following the decision by the signal
transmission control section 117, the signal transmitter 114a
transmits the image which has been formed and which is accumulated
in the memory 113 as a radio wave Ca to outside the body of the
patient via the signal transmission antenna 114b (in the step
S10a).
[0138] The antenna external to the body of the patient 130, along
with receiving the radio wave Ca which has been transmitted (in the
step S11a), also transmits it to the recording device 145 via the
plug 143. At this time, since the antennas external to the body of
the patient 130 are separated by the prescribed distance ha from
his body, any influence of the impedance of the body of the patient
can be prevented Furthermore, it is possible reliably to receive
the radio wave Ca which has been transmitted, since it is also
possible to receive the radio wave Ca and the like coming from the
surroundings. And the recording device 145 records in the memory
the formed image, which is the information, which has been
transmitted from an antenna external to the body of the patient. By
this, it is possible reliably to take out the information from the
capsule endoscope 110 which has been ingested into the body of the
patient.
[0139] According to the capsule endoscope communication system 101
and the capsule endoscope 110, it is possible to obtain the formed
images, which are the information, from the capsule endoscope 110,
which is shifting within the body of the patient while forming
images of various portions thereof, simply by the patient putting
on the air mat 140 to which the antennas external to the body of
the patient 130 are fitted. In other words, in the capsule
endoscope 110, the comparison circuit 116 infers whether or not the
state of communication is satisfactory according to the received
level of the radio wave Ba which has been transmitted from the
antenna external to the body of the patient 130, and then, based
upon the result of the inference, the signal transmission control
section 117 makes the final decision, and then transmits the images
which have been formed to the antenna external to the body of the
patient 130 using the signal transmission section 114. By this, it
is possible reliably to obtain the information, since the
information is received from the capsule endoscope 110 which is
shifting within the body of the patient when the state of the
communication is satisfactory. In particular, it is possible
reliably to obtain outside the body of the patient the information
which has been acquired by the capsule endoscope 110 at any time it
is required, and this information is not obtained finally all at
once, but while the capsule endoscope 110 is shifting within the
body of the patient. Therefore, even if, for example, some
disappearance or the like of the information has occurred due to
some problem with the capsule endoscope 110, it is possible to
suppress the influence thereof as minimum, since the information up
to the point is already recorded in the recording device 145.
Accordingly, it is possible to enhance the reliability of
inspection. Furthermore, the capacity of the memory 113 can be
saved, and can be utilized with high efficiency. Yet further, as
the patient Aa does not need always to wear the air mat 140 which
includes the antennas external to his body 130, and as the patient
Aa uses it when it is necessary, it is possible to alleviate the
burden of the inspection upon the patient Aa.
[0140] Furthermore, since the antennas external to the body of the
patient 130 are separated by the prescribed distance ha from the
body of the patient Aa, it is possible to prevent the influence
from the impedance of the patient Aa. Therefore, it is possible
reliably to receive the radio wave Ca which is transmitted from the
capsule endoscope 110.
Fifth Embodiment
[0141] Next, a capsule type medical apparatus according to the
fifth embodiment of the present invention will be explained with
reference to FIGS. 16 through 18. Moreover, in the explanation of
the present embodiment, to structural elements which are the same
as in the above described fourth embodiment, the same reference
symbols will be affixed, and their explanation will be omitted.
[0142] The point of difference between the present embodiment and
the above described fourth embodiment is that, whereas in the above
described fourth embodiment, the capsule endoscope 110 inferred the
state of communication according to the level of the radio wave Ba
which had been transmitted from the antenna external to the body of
the patient 130, by contrast, with the capsule endoscope
communication system (the capsule type medical apparatus
communication system) 150 of the present embodiment, the capsule
endoscope (capsule type medical apparatus) 160 infers the state of
communication according to the level of an energy wave Da which has
been transmitted from outside the body of the patient.
[0143] As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the capsule endoscope
communication system 150 of the present embodiment includes: a
capsule endoscope 160 which can be swallowed by a patient Aa;
antennas external to the body of the patient 130, which are
disposed outside the body of the patient, and which receive a radio
wave Ca which includes information, in other words, an image which
has been formed, from a signal transmission section 114 of the
capsule endoscope 160; and an energy wave transmission section
(energy wave transmission device) 151 which is arranged adjacent to
these antennas external to the body of the patient 130, and which
transmits an energy wave Da towards the interior of the body of the
patient.
[0144] As shown in FIG. 18, the above described capsule endoscope
161 includes an energy wave reception antenna (an energy wave
reception device) 160 which receives an energy wave Da which has
been transmitted from an energy wave transmission section 151
internal to the vessel 111, and a conversion section 162 which
converts the energy wave Da which has been received to electrical
power. Furthermore, an energy wave reception antenna 161 is endowed
with the function of sending the energy wave Da which has been
received to the comparison circuit 116. The comparison circuit 116,
along with converting the energy wave Da which has been sent to a
signal value which is proportional to the level of the received
signal, also compares the signal value with a threshold value which
is set in advance, and is set to infer, if the signal value is the
same or greater than the threshold value, that the state of
communication with the antenna external to the body of the patient
130 is satisfactory.
[0145] Furthermore, the signal transmission section 114 is endowed
with the function of performing signal transmission by using the
electrical power which has been converted from the energy wave Da.
In other words, the electrical power which has been converted by
the above described conversion section 162 is supplied to the
signal transmitter 114a. In other words, the electrical power which
the signal transmitter 114a requires for transmission is supplied
from outside the body of the patient.
[0146] The case of obtaining of information by communicating with
the capsule endoscope 160 by the capsule endoscope communication
system 150 structured in the above manner will now be explained in
the following.
[0147] After the capsule endoscope 160 has been introduced to
within the body of the patient Aa, along with the patient Aa
putting on, according to requirements, the air mat 140 to which a
plurality of the antennas external to the body of the patient 130
and the energy wave transmission sections 151 have been fitted, air
is injected and a separation from the body of the patient by the
prescribed distance ha is established. And an energy wave Da from
the energy wave transmission 151 is transmitted to within the body
of the patient by a switch or the like not shown in the figure.
When the energy wave Da is transmitted, the energy wave reception
antenna 161 of the capsule endoscope 160 receives the energy wave
Da from that energy wave transmission section 151 which is closest
to it, and transmits it to the comparison circuit 116. The
comparison circuit 116 compares a signal value which is made to be
proportional to the level of the energy wave Da which has been
transmitted and received with a threshold value. If the result of
the comparison is that the signal value is the same or greater than
the threshold value, then the comparison circuit 116 infers that
the state of communication with the antenna external to the body of
the patient 130 is satisfactory, and sends the result of the
inference to the signal transmission control section 117. The
signal transmission control section 117 receives the result, and
makes the final decision to perform communication and operates the
signal transmitter 114a. By this, when the state of communication
is satisfactory, the signal transmitter 114a is able to transmit
the formed images which are accumulated in the memory 113 to the
antenna external to the body 130.
[0148] Furthermore, since during the transmission of the signal,
the signal transmission is performed by utilizing the electrical
power which has been converted by the conversion section 162, it is
not necessary to utilize the electrical power of the battery 123
for signal transmission. Since it is possible to take advantage of
the electrical power of the battery 123 for acquisition of the
information in an intensive manner, it is possible, for example, to
increase the number of times for which images are made, or to
perform more detailed inspection. Furthermore, even if the service
life of the battery 123 has expired, the information which has been
acquired up till that time point may reliably be obtained outside
the body of the patient.
[0149] Furthermore, the signal transmitter 114a may also be set so
as to start the signal transmission automatically at the time point
that the electrical power which has been converted exceeds the
value which is required for driving the signal transmitter
114a.
[0150] According to the capsule endoscope communication system 150
and the capsule endoscope 160, it is possible to perform
communication when the communication state is inferred as
satisfactory based upon the reception level of the energy level Da
by the comparison circuit 116, and to obtain the information from
within the capsule endoscope 160 which is moving within the body of
the patient, at outside the body of the patient in a reliable
manner. In particular, since the energy wave Da which has been
transmitted from outside the body of the patient is converted into
electrical power, and the information is transmitted by utilizing
the electrical power, even if the service life of the battery 123
has expired, the information which has been acquired up till that
time point may reliably be obtained outside the body of the
patient.
[0151] It should be understood that the above described energy wave
Da may be an electromagnetic wave, or may be an ultrasonic
wave.
Sixth Embodiment
[0152] Next, a capsule type medical apparatus according to the
sixth embodiment of the present invention will be explained with
reference to FIGS. 19 through 21. It should be understood that, in
the explanation of the present embodiment, to structural elements
which are the same as in the above described fourth embodiment, the
same reference symbols will be affixed, and their explanation will
be omitted.
[0153] The point of difference between the present embodiment and
the above described fourth embodiment is that, whereas in the above
described fourth embodiment the capsule endoscope 110 inferred the
state of communication according to the level of the radio wave Ba
which had been transmitted from the antenna external to the body of
the patient 130, by contrast, with the capsule endoscope
communication system (the capsule type medical apparatus
communication system) 170 of the present embodiment, the capsule
endoscope (capsule type medical apparatus) 180 infers the state of
communication based upon the magnetic direction of a magnet 171
which is disposed outside the body of the patient.
[0154] As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the capsule endoscope
communication system 170 of the present embodiment includes: a
capsule endoscope 180 which can be swallowed by a patient Aa; an
antenna external to the body of the patient 130, which is disposed
outside the body of the patient, and which receives a radio wave Ca
which includes information, in other words, an image which has been
formed, which is transmitted from a signal transmission section 114
of the capsule endoscope 180; and the above described magnet 171
which is disposed in a direction which is correlated with the
direction of signal reception (the direction of the plane of
polarization) of the antenna external to the body of the patient
130.
[0155] As shown in FIG. 21, the above described capsule endoscope
180 includes a magnetic sensor 181 in the interior of the vessel
111, which detects the magnetic direction of the magnet 171 by the
magnetic force Ea which the magnet 171 generates. Furthermore, the
magnetic sensor 181 is endowed with the function of sending the
detected magnetic direction to the comparison circuit 116. Yet
further, the direction of the plane of polarization of the signal
transmission antenna 114b as seen from the magnetic sensor 181 is
set in advance in the comparison circuit 116. By this, by comparing
together the magnetic direction which has been sent from the
magnetic sensor 181 and the direction which was set in advance, the
comparison circuit 116 is able to infer whether or not the
direction of signal transmission (the direction of the plane of
polarization) of the signal transmission antenna 114b is oriented
in the direction of the magnet 171. In other words, the comparison
circuit 116 is able to infer whether or not the signal transmission
direction of the signal transmission antenna 114b is oriented in
the signal reception direction of the antenna external to the body
of the patient, since a correlation is established between the
magnet 171 and the signal reception direction of the antenna
external to the body of the patient 130.
[0156] The case of obtaining a information by the capsule endoscope
communication system 170 of the above structure by communicating
with the capsule endoscope 180 will now be explained in the
following.
[0157] With this capsule endoscope 180 which is inserted within the
body of the patient and which is shifting about while acquiring
information via the image formation section 112, when the state of
communication is satisfactory and moreover it has shifted to the
magnetic field region of the magnet 171, along with the magnetic
sensor 181 detecting the magnetic direction by the reaction of the
magnet 171 upon the magnetic force Ea, this is also sent to the
comparison circuit 116. The comparison circuit 116 compares the
magnetic direction which has been sent and has arrived with the
direction which is set in advance.
[0158] If the result of the comparison is that the magnetic
direction is the same direction as the set direction, then it is
inferred that the communication state is satisfactory with the
matching between the signal transmission antenna 114b and the
antenna external to the body of the patient 130 by being most
suitable. Accordingly, it is possible reliably to transmit the
information, which is the images which have been formed and which
are accumulated in the memory 113, to the antenna external to the
body of the patient 130.
[0159] Since, according to the capsule endoscope communication
system 170 and the capsule endoscope 180, the comparison circuit
116 compares together the magnetic direction which has been
detected by the magnetic sensor 181 and the direction which has
been set in advance, and infers the state of communication by the
matching between the communication antenna 114b and the antenna
external to the body of the patient 130, it is possible to perform
signal transmission only when the communication state is
satisfactory, and it is possible reliably to obtain the information
outside the body of the patient.
Seventh Embodiment
[0160] Next, a capsule type medical apparatus according to the
seventh embodiment of the present invention will be explained with
reference to FIGS. 22 and 23. It should be understood that, in the
explanation of the present embodiment, to structural elements which
are the same as in the above described fourth embodiment, the same
reference symbols will be affixed, and their explanation will be
omitted.
[0161] The point of difference between the present embodiment and
the above described fourth embodiment is that, whereas in the above
described fourth embodiment, the capsule endoscope 110 inferred the
state of communication according to the level of the radio wave Ba
which had been transmitted from the antenna external to the body of
the patient 130, by contrast, with the capsule endoscope
communication system (the capsule type medical apparatus
communication system) 190 of the present embodiment, the capsule
endoscope (capsule type medical apparatus) 200 infers the state of
communication based upon the gravity direction which is detected by
a gravity sensor 201.
[0162] As shown in FIG. 22, the capsule endoscope communication
system 190 of the present embodiment includes a capsule endoscope
200 which can be swallowed by a patient Aa, and an antenna external
to the body of the patient 130, which is disposed outside the body
of the patient, and which receives a radio wave Ca which includes
information, in other words an image which has been formed, from a
signal transmission section 114 of the capsule endoscope 200. It
should be understood that, in the present embodiment, when the
patient Aa has put on the air mat 140, the signal reception
direction of the antenna external to the body of the patient 130 is
oriented along the direction of gravity.
[0163] As shown in FIG. 23, the above described capsule endoscope
200 includes, internally to the vessel 111, the above described
gravity sensor 201 which detects the direction of gravity. The
gravity sensor 201 is endowed with the function of sending the
direction of gravity which it has detected to the comparison
circuit 116. The direction of the plane of polarization of the
signal transmission antenna 114b as seen from the gravity sensor
201 is set in advance in the comparison circuit 116. By this, the
comparison circuit 116 is able to infer whether or not the
direction of signal transmission (the direction of the plane of
polarization) of the signal transmission antenna 114b is oriented
in the signal reception direction of the antenna external to the
body of the patient 130 by comparing together the direction of
gravity which has been sent by the gravity sensor 201 and the
direction which is set in advance.
[0164] According to the capsule endoscope communication system 190
and the capsule endoscope 200 which are configured like this, the
capsule endoscope 200 which is inserted within the body of the
patient and which is shifting about while acquiring information
with the image formation section 112, always detects the direction
of gravity by the gravity sensor 201 without any relationship to
its own attitude. The comparison circuit 116 compares together the
direction of gravity which has been sent from the gravity sensor
201 and the direction which has been set in advance. If the result
of the comparison is that the direction of gravity is the same
direction as the set direction, then it infers that the state of
matching of the signal transmission direction of the signal
transmission antenna 114b and the signal reception direction of the
antenna external to the body of the patient 130 is the most
suitable one, in other words, that the communication state is
satisfactory. Accordingly, it is possible reliably to transmit the
information, which is the formed images which have been accumulated
in the memory 113, to the antenna external to the body of the
patient 130.
[0165] It should be understood that, in the present embodiment,
when obtaining the information of the patient Aa from the capsule
endoscope 200, it is desirable for him to sit, for example, in a
chair or the like, so that the plane of polarization of the antenna
external to the body of the patient 130 is stationary and so that
it is reliably oriented in the direction of gravity.
[0166] Furthermore, a structure would also be acceptable in which
the antenna external to the body of the patient 130 moves passively
or actively, so that even if the patient Aa has moved around after
having put on the air mat 140, the signal reception direction of
the antenna external to the body of the patient 130 is always
oriented in the direction of gravity.
[0167] Yet further, although the attitude of the capsule endoscope
200 within the body of the patient has been detected by the gravity
sensor 201, this is not to be construed as being limitative; for
example, instead of the gravity sensor 201, it would also be
acceptable to incorporate a gyro. In this case, since it is
possible to detect a permanently constant direction without any
relationship with the attitude within the body of the patient, it
is possible to infer the state of communication by the comparison
circuit 116 making a comparison with the set direction.
Eighth Embodiment
[0168] Next, a capsule type medical apparatus according to the
eighth embodiment of the present invention will be explained with
reference to FIGS. 24 and 25. It should be understood that, in the
explanation of the present embodiment, to structural elements which
are the same as in the above described fourth embodiment, the same
reference symbols will be affixed, and their explanation will be
omitted.
[0169] The point of difference between the present embodiment and
the above described fourth embodiment is that, whereas in the above
described fourth embodiment the capsule endoscope 110 inferred the
state of communication according to the level of the radio wave Ba
which had been transmitted from the antenna external to the body of
the patient 130, by contrast, with the capsule endoscope
communication system (the capsule type medical apparatus
communication system) 210 of the present embodiment, the capsule
endoscope (capsule type medical apparatus) 220 infers the state of
communication based upon change of the luminance which is detected
by a luminance sensor 221.
[0170] That is, as shown in FIG. 24, the capsule endoscope
communication system 220 of the present embodiment includes the
above described capsule endoscope 220 which can be swallowed by a
patient Aa, and an antenna external to the body of the patient 130,
which is disposed outside the body of the patient, and which
receives a radio wave Ca which includes information, in other words
an image which has been formed, from a signal transmission section
114 of the capsule endoscope 220.
[0171] As shown in FIG. 25, the above described capsule endoscope
220 includes, in the interior of the vessel 111, the luminance
sensor 221 which detects the luminance within the body of the
patient. A portion of the luminance sensor 221 is exposed at the
outer surface of the vessel 111, and is accordingly enabled to
detect the luminance within the body of the patient. Furthermore,
the luminance sensor 221 is endowed with the function of sending
the detected luminance to a comparison circuit 116. Yet further,
for example, a luminance value corresponding to the unique value of
a stomach where the communication state is a comparatively
satisfactory state, is set in advance in the comparison circuit 116
as a threshold value. By doing this, the comparison circuit 116 is
able to infer that the capsule endoscope 220 is positioned in the
stomach, that is, the state of communication is in satisfactory by
comparing the luminance value which has been sent by the luminance
sensor 221 with the threshold value.
[0172] According to the capsule endoscope communication system 210
and the capsule endoscope 220 having the above configuration, the
capsule endoscope 220 which is inserted into the body of the
patient and which is shifting around while acquiring information
via the image formation section 112, the luminance sensor 221
always detects the luminance within the body of the patient. Here,
if the capsule endoscope 220 has shifted within the body of the
patient, then the comparison circuit 116 compares together the
luminance value which has been sent from the luminance sensor and
the threshold value, and infers that it is currently positioned
within the stomach. Accordingly, the information, which is the
images which have been formed and which are accumulated in the
memory 113, can be reliably transmitted to the antenna external to
the body of the patient 130, since it is possible to perform
communication when the capsule endoscope 220 is positioned within
the stomach where the communication state is comparatively
satisfactory.
[0173] It should be understood that although, in the present
embodiment, it is inferred that the capsule endoscope 200 is
positioned within the stomach where the communication state is
satisfactory according to the luminance value which has been
detected by the luminance sensor 221, this is not to be construed
as being limitative; for example, it would also be acceptable to
use a pH sensor instead of the luminance sensor 221. In this case,
it would be possible to infer whether or not the capsule endoscope
210 is positioned within the stomach by setting in advance a pH
value which is unique value of the stomach in the comparison
circuit 116 as a threshold value. Or, alternatively, it would also
be acceptable to employ, as a reference for inference, not a
threshold value of luminance or of pH value, but rather a pattern
of change of luminance or of pH value up to the desired
position.
[0174] Furthermore although, in the present embodiment, the
position where the state of communication was comparatively
satisfactory was set to the stomach of the patient, this is not to
be construed as being limitative.
Ninth Embodiment
[0175] Next, a capsule type medical apparatus according to the
ninth embodiment of the present invention will be explained with
reference to FIGS. 26 through 28. It should be understood that, in
the explanation of the present embodiment, to structural elements
which are the same as in the above described fourth embodiment, the
same reference symbols will be affixed, and their explanation will
be omitted.
[0176] The point of difference between the present embodiment and
the above described fourth embodiment is that whereas in the above
described fourth embodiment, communication with the capsule
endoscope 110 was performed by the patient Aa wearing the air mat
140 to which the plurality of antennas external to the body of the
patient 130 were fixed, by contrast, with the capsule endoscope
communication system (the capsule type medical apparatus
communication system) 230 of the present embodiment, the antenna
external to the body 130 is movable.
[0177] As shown in FIG. 26, the capsule endoscope communication
system 230 of the present embodiment includes a capsule endoscope
110 which can be swallowed by a patient Aa, and an air mat 240
which includes the above described antennas external to the body of
the patient 130.
[0178] As shown in FIG. 27, the air mat 240 is formed in a belt
shape, and a connector 241 such as Velcro fasteners or the like are
provided on the front and rear surfaces of the both ends. By this,
it is possible for the patient Aa to keep it rolled upon, for
example, the vicinity of his abdomen. Furthermore, a shift rail 242
which has a height of ha is provided upon the outer surface of the
air mat 240, over its entire surface. Yet further, a shift pedestal
243 which can be shifted manually is attached upon the shift rail
242, and the above antenna external to the body of the patient 130
is attached upon this shift pedestal 243.
[0179] In other words, as shown in FIG. 28, the antenna external to
the body of the patient 130, along with being in a state of being
separated from the surface of the body of the patient Aa by the
prescribed interval distance ha, can also be shifted in the state
keeping the interval distance ha.
[0180] Furthermore, to the shift pedestal 243, there are provided a
recording device 244 which receives the information which has been
received by the antenna external to the body of the patient 130, a
speaker 245 which operates when the antenna external to the body of
the patient 130 has received the radio wave Ca, and a LED 146 which
emits light when the antenna external to the body of the patient
130 has received the radio wave Ca.
[0181] Whenever required, the above described recording device 244
accumulates images of the patient Aa which have been formed and
which have been sent from the antenna external to the body of the
patient 130 in a memory not shown in the figures. The above
described speaker 245, for example, may be set so as to generate a
continuous sound when the antenna external to the body of the
patient 130 is receiving the radio wave Ca, and so as to generate
an intermittent sound when signal reception has been terminated.
Furthermore, the LED 146, for example, may be set so as to be
illuminated when the antenna external to the body of the patient
130 is receiving the radio wave Ca, and so as to be turned off when
signal reception has been terminated.
[0182] When taking the information by communicating with the
capsule endoscope 110 using the capsule endoscope communication
system 230 which has the abovementioned structure, the patient Aa,
after having put on the air mat 240, slowly shifts the shift
pedestal 243 along the shift rail 242 by manual operation.
Meanwhile, the capsule endoscope 110 infers the state of
communication based upon the received level of the signal of the
radio wave Ba which is transmitted from the antenna external to the
body of the patient 130. Here if, by shifting the antenna external
to the body of the patient 130, when it has been inferred that the
state of communication is satisfactory, then the capsule endoscope
110 transmits the radio wave signal Ca towards the antenna external
to the body of the patient 130. When the antenna external to the
body of the patient 130 receives the radio wave Ca, along with
sending the information to the recording device 244, it notifies
the speaker 245 and the LED 146. Upon receipt of the notification,
the speaker 245 generates a continuous sound, while the LED 146
turns ON. Here, since the patient Aa notices that the radio wave Ca
has been received by the antenna external to the body of the
patient 130 according to the sound from the speaker 245 and the
light generated by the LED 146, therefore he stops shifting the
shift pedestal 243. By this, it is possible reliably to obtain the
information for the patient Aa by the single antenna external to
the body of the patient 130 when the state of communication from
the capsule endoscope 110 is satisfactory. Furthermore since, when
the reception of the information has been completed, along with the
speaker 245 generating an intermittent sound, also the LED 146 is
turned OFF, accordingly the patient Aa is easily enabled to know
that the reception of signals has been completed.
[0183] Since, as has been described above, according to the capsule
endoscope communication system 230, a position in which the state
of communication is satisfactory may be searched for over a wide
range by shifting the antenna external to the body of the patient
130 along the shift rail 242, accordingly, it is possible to
utilize a single antenna external to the body of the patient 130 in
an efficient manner.
[0184] It should be understood that, in the present embodiment, it
is possible easily to change the distance between the antenna
external to the body of the patient 130 and the body of the patient
Aa itself by changing the height ha of the shift rails. Furthermore
although, in order to cause the patient Aa to perceived that the
radio wave Ca has been received, a construction was employed in
which both the speaker 245 and the LED 146 were provided, it would
also be acceptable to provide only one of them; and it would also
be acceptable to provide a different perception device. Yet
further, although the shift pedestal 243 was moved manually, it
would also be acceptable for it to be shifted electrically by a
motor or the like.
Tenth Embodiment
[0185] Next, a capsule type medical apparatus according to the
tenth embodiment of the present invention will be explained with
reference to FIGS. 29 and 30. It should be understood that, in the
explanation of the present embodiment, to structural elements which
are the same as in the above described fourth embodiment, the same
reference symbols will be affixed, and their explanation will be
omitted.
[0186] The point of difference between the present embodiment and
the above described fourth embodiment is that, whereas in the above
described fourth embodiment, communication with the capsule
endoscope 110 was performed by the patient Aa wearing the air mat
140 to which the plurality of antennas external to the body of the
patient 130 were fixed, by contrast, with the capsule endoscope
communication system (the capsule type medical apparatus
communication system) 230 of the present embodiment, communication
with the capsule endoscope 110 is performed by a communication
device 260 which includes an antenna external to the body of the
patient 130, which is disposed, for example, in a hospital or the
like.
[0187] As shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, the capsule endoscope
communication system 250 of the present embodiment includes a
capsule endoscope 110 which can be swallowed by a patient Aa, and
the above described communication device 260.
[0188] The communication device 260 internally houses, within the
chair 261, the above described antenna external to the body of the
patient 130, a shifting mechanism 262 which changes the position
and the orientation of this antenna external to the body of the
patient 130, an air bag 263 which adjusts the distance between the
antenna external to the body of the patient 130 and the patient Aa,
and an electrically driven pump 264 which supplies air to within
the air bag 263.
[0189] The above described shifting mechanism 262 includes a pair
of parallel vertical guides 265 at the backrest of the chair 261, a
pair of vertical sliders 266 which can be shifted in the axial
direction of these vertical guides 265, a horizontal guide 267
which is connected between the pair of vertical sliders 266, and a
horizontal slider 268 which, along with being shiftable in the
axial direction of this horizontal guide 267, also can be rotated
around the axis of this horizontal guide 267. And the above
described antenna external to the body of the patient 130 is
attached to the horizontal slider 268. By this, the antenna
external to the body of the patient 130 can be shifted in the
upward and downward direction over the entire extent of the
backrest of the chair 261, while its angle is varied.
[0190] It should be understood that the vertical slider 266 and the
horizontal slider 268 are shifted by motors not shown in the
figures.
[0191] The above described air bag 263 is arranged between the
shifting mechanism 262 and the backrest of the chair 261, and, when
air is supplied from an electrically driven pump 264, it expands
and blows up the backrest. In other words, when the patient Aa has
sat down in the chair 261, the distance between the patient Aa and
the antenna external to the body of the patient 130 is spaced to
the prescribed interval distance.
[0192] When taking out information by communicating with the
capsule endoscope 110 by the capsule endoscope communication system
250, after having swallowed the capsule endoscope 110, the patient
Aa sits in the chair 261 which is installed in a hospital or the
like. When he sits in the chair 261, the antenna external to the
body of the patient 130 shifts by shifting of the vertical sliders
266 and by shifting and rotating of the horizontal sliders 268.
Meanwhile, the capsule endoscope 110 infers the state of
communication based upon the level of signal reception of the radio
wave Ba which has been transmitted from the antenna external to the
body of the patient 130. Here, if it has been inferred that the
state of communication is satisfactory by shifting the antenna
external to the body of the patient 130, then the capsule endoscope
110 transmits the radio wave Ca towards the antenna external to the
body of the patient 130.
[0193] In this manner, the patient Aa can obtain the information by
communicating with the capsule endoscope 110, merely by sitting in
the chair 261, and by searching for a position in which the state
of communication is satisfactory while shifting the antenna
external to the body of the patient 130 within the range of the
backrest. Accordingly it is possible to alleviate the burden upon
the patient Aa due to the acquisition of the information.
Furthermore, it is possible reliably to diminish the influence of
impedance, since it is possible to secure the distance between the
antenna external to the body of the patient 130 and the patient Aa
easily and reliably by the air bag 263, corresponding to the
physique of the patient Aa.
[0194] It should be understood that it would be acceptable to
inform the patient Aa that the radio wave Ca is being received in a
position in which the state of communication with the antenna
external to the body of the patient 130 is satisfactory with, for
example, a sound from a speaker, or a light from a LED, or the
like.
[0195] Yet further, although the antenna external to the body of
the patient 130 was made movable by the shifting mechanism 262,
this is not to be construed as being limitative; it would also be
acceptable to arrange a plurality of such antennas as being
fixed.
[0196] For example, as shown in FIGS. 31A and 31B, it would be
acceptable to provide a plate shaped antenna array 270 within the
backrest of the chair 261, and to arrange a plurality of antennas
external to the body of the patient 130 in the antenna array 270.
In this case, the closest one to the capsule endoscope 110 of the
antennas external to the body of the patient 130 receives the radio
wave Ca when the state of communication is satisfactory.
Furthermore, it would also be acceptable to utilize a foamed member
Ha1 which was made from foamed styrol or the like, in order to
secure the distance between the antenna external to the body of the
patient 130 and the patient Aa.
[0197] It should be understood that the technology of the present
invention is not one which is limited to the above described
embodiments; it is possible to add various changes, within a range
in which the gist of the present invention is not departed
from.
[0198] For example, in the above described fourth embodiment
although an air mat into which air could be injected was utilized
for keeping the antenna external to the body of the patient at the
prescribed distance from the body of the patient, this is not to be
construed as being limitative. For example, the endoscope
communication system (the capsule type medical apparatus
communication system) 280 shown in FIG. 32 includes a mat 281 and
an air bag 282 which can be put on by the patient Aa. As shown in
FIG. 33, the mat 281 is made in a belt shape, and a connector 282
such as Velcro fasteners or the like are provided at both ends of
its front and rear surfaces. By this, it can be fitted by winding
it around the patient Aa. Furthermore, upon the outer surface of
the mat 281, there are formed a plurality of pockets 284 in which
antennas external to the body of the patient 130 can be stored. Yet
further, cables are connected via plugs to the antennas external to
the body of the patient 130.
[0199] The above described air bag 282 has roughly the same height
as the above described mat 281, and is made so that air can be
injected into its interior from an air injection hole 282a.
[0200] With this endoscope communication system 280, when
communicating with the capsule endoscope 110, the patient Aa, as
shown in FIG. 32, puts on the mat 281 while sandwiching the air bag
282 between it and himself. After putting it on, along with storing
the antennas external to the body of the patient 130 in each pocket
284, the plugs of the antennas external to the body of the patient
130 is connected to receptacles of a recording device 285. By doing
this, it is possible to affix a plurality of antennas external to
the body of the patient 130 at a prescribed distance from the body
of the patient.
[0201] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 34, it would also be
acceptable to append markings to the above described mat 281 for,
for example, the navel or the hip bone. Yet further, the pockets
284 are formed centered on each marking. In this case, by putting
on the mat 281 while using the markings as guides, it is possible
for the patient Aa to position the antenna external to the body of
the patient 130 in an intensive manner to a specific region, such
as, for example, the vicinity of the duodenum, the vicinity of the
transverse colon, or the like. Accordingly, when the capsule
endoscope 110 has moved to the vicinity of the duodenum or the
vicinity of the transverse colon, it is possible to perform
communication with it. However, this process is not limited to the
vicinity of the duodenum or the vicinity of the transverse
colon.
[0202] Furthermore although, in the above described embodiments,
formed images of various portions within the body of the patient
and these images were taken as the information, this is not to be
construed as being limitative; it would also be acceptable for the
information to be pH value, pressure, or body fluid or the like. In
this case, it would be appropriate, instead of providing an image
formation section, to adopt the structure which can acquire such
various information.
[0203] Yet further, although a device was employed for the image
formation section which took photographs within the body of the
patient at fixed time intervals intermittently and moreover at
random, this is not to be construed as being limitative; it would
also be acceptable, for example, to utilize a device which takes
photographs of the interior of the body of the patient
continuously, such as a video or the like. In this case, the video
signal would be stored.
[0204] Yet further, the present invention is not to be construed as
being limited to the case of photography within the body of the
patient by video or the like; any device which is able to detect
information within the body of the patient and to transmit the
resulting data to a device outside the body of the patient will be
acceptable. For example, the present invention may also be applied
to a capsule type medical apparatus for hemorrhage inspection which
includes a hemoglobin sensor, or to a capsule type medical
apparatus for inspection of information within the living body
which acquires information relating to pH value, pressure value,
temperature, amount of bacteria, genetic abnormality, and the like
within the body of the patient intermittently over a long time
period and transmits that information to a device outside the body
of the patient, or to an ultrasonic wave capsule type medical
apparatus which acquires ultrasonic wave images or the like
intermittently and transmits them to a device outside the body of
the patient.
[0205] Even further, it would be acceptable to incorporate a memory
which was equipped with a backup function to the capsule endoscope,
and to store up all the images which are formed, including the
formed images which have been transmitted to outside the body of
the patient by the signal transmission section. In this case, it
would be possible to enhance the reliability of inspection, since
it would be possible to collect the image formation data from the
memory after receiving the capsule endoscope. Moreover, even if,
when transmitting the data for the images which have been formed to
outside the body of the patient, the signal were to be interrupted
during the transmission, it would also be possible, during the next
signal transmission, to transmit the formed images from after the
break point.
[0206] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have
been explained above, the present invention is not limited to these
embodiments. Additions, omissions, substitutions, and other changes
are possible, within the range in which the gist of the present
invention is not departed from. The present invention is not
limited by the above described explanations, but is limited only by
the scope of the appended Claims.
[0207] As explained above, the first capsule type medical apparatus
communication system of the present invention includes a capsule
type medical apparatus which transmits information relating to the
body of an examinee from within the body of the examinee to outside
it, and an information receiver which is disposed externally to the
body of the examinee and which receives the information, and: the
capsule type medical apparatus transmits towards the information
receiver a communication confirmation signal which confirms the
state of communication with the information receiver; the
information receiver, when it has received the communication
confirmation signal, transmits a communication authorization signal
which authorizes the capsule type medical apparatus to perform
communication; and the capsule type medical apparatus includes a
communication control device which transmits the information when
it has received the communication authorization signal.
[0208] With the above described first capsule type medical
communication system, since the capsule type medical apparatus
transmits the information when it has received the communication
authorization signal which has been transmitted from the
information receiver, accordingly, it is possible to perform the
transmission of the information (the data signal transmission) when
the state of communication between both of them is satisfactory.
Accordingly, when the state of communication is unsatisfactory,
i.e. when the information receiver cannot receive the information,
then there is no undesirable consumption of electrical power for
transmitting useless images from the capsule type medical
apparatus. Furthermore, since the information such as, for example,
a plurality of image frames or the like is transmitted when the
state of communication is satisfactory, the possibility that the
information receiver loses the images which have been acquired is
small, and the information is received in an efficient manner.
Thus, it is possible to obtain more accurate information.
[0209] The communication authorization signal may also serve as a
wireless signal which performs supply of electrical power to the
capsule type medical apparatus.
[0210] In this case, since the capsule type medical apparatus is
able to receive supply of electrical power via the communication
authorization signal from the information receiver which is
disposed outside the body of the examinee, it is possible to
eliminate cutoff of electrical power due to the battery becoming
exhausted or the like. Thus, it is possible to obtain the
information in a reliable manner.
[0211] The first capsule type medical apparatus of the present
invention includes: an acquisition device which acquires
information about the body of an examinee; a signal transmission
device which transmits, towards an information receiver which is
disposed externally to the body of the examinee, the information
which has been acquired, and a communication confirmation signal
which confirms the state of communication with the information
receiver; a signal reception device which, if the communication
confirmation signal has been received, receives a wireless signal
which has been transmitted from the information receiver which
includes at least a communication authorization signal; and a
communication control device which makes a decision as to whether
or not to transmit the information, based upon the state of
reception of the communication authorization signal.
[0212] When the above described first capsule type medical
apparatus is inserted within the body of the patient who is to be
examined, it moves within the body of the patient who is to be
examined (due to peristaltic movement and the like) while it is
performing the acquisition of the information with the acquisition
device. Furthermore, when it shifts within the body of the patient
who is to be examined, at the same time as acquiring the
information, the signal transmission device transmits the
communication confirmation signal to outside the body of the
examinee. When the information receiver receives the communication
confirmation signal, it transmits a wireless signal which includes
the communication authorization signal. And, when the signal
reception device receives the communication authorization signal
which has been sent from the information receiver when it is
shifting within the body of the patient who is being examined, the
communication control device makes a decision as to whether or not
to transmit the information, based upon the state of signal
reception of the communication authorization signal, and, if it
decides to transmit, it transmits the information from the signal
transmission device.
[0213] In this manner, it is possible to transmit the information
(data transmission) when the state of communication between the
first capsule type medical apparatus and the information receiver
is satisfactory. Accordingly there is no undesirable consumption of
electrical power for transmitting useless images when the state of
communication is unsatisfactory, in other words, when the
information receiver cannot receive the information. Furthermore,
since the information such as, for example, a plurality of image
frames or the like is transmitted when the state of communication
is satisfactory, the possibility that the information receiver
loses the images which have been acquired is small. Thus, it is
possible to obtain more accurate information.
[0214] The same antenna may be used for both the signal
transmission device and the signal reception device.
[0215] In this case, since the signal transmission device and the
signal reception device can employ the same antenna by changing it
over or the like, it is possible to anticipate an enhancement of
compactness.
[0216] The signal reception device may include an envelope wave
detection circuit.
[0217] In this case, it is possible to limit the consumption of
electrical power by the signal reception device, since it is
possible to manufacture the main structural components of the
signal reception device such as, for example, the greater portion
of the demodulation portion and the like, as passive components. In
particular, if a battery or the like which is housed internally
within the first capsule type medical apparatus is utilized as the
electrical power source, it is possible to reduce the consumption
of the electrical power of the battery, and accordingly it is
possible to extend its service life, since it is possible
efficiently to employ its limited electrical power.
[0218] The signal reception device may include a rectification
circuit which obtains electrical power from the wireless signal,
and a communication authorization detection section which detects
the communication authorization signal from the output of the
rectification circuit and sends it to the communication control
device.
[0219] In this case, it is possible to eliminate cutoff of
electrical power due to the battery becoming exhausted or the like,
since it is possible for the rectification circuit to receive the
supply of electrical power via the wireless signal which is
transmitted from the information receiver which is arranged
externally to the body of the examinee. Accordingly, it is possible
to obtain the information in a reliable manner. Furthermore, it is
not necessary to provide any separate detection circuit, since the
communication authorization detection section detects the
communication authorization signal from the output of the
rectification circuit. Accordingly, the construction is easy, and
it is possible to anticipate an enhancement of the compactness.
[0220] The information receiver of the present invention includes:
a signal reception device which receives, from a capsule type
medical apparatus within the body of an examinee, information about
the body of the examinee which has been transmitted, and a
communication confirmation signal which confirms the state of
communication with the capsule type medical apparatus; a recording
section which records the information which has been received; a
communication authorization signal creation section which, when the
signal reception device has received the communication confirmation
signal, creates a communication authorization signal which
authorizes the capsule type medical apparatus to transmit the
information; and a communication authorization signal transmission
device which transmits the communication authorization signal.
[0221] With the above described information receiver, when the
communication confirmation signal is received by the signal
reception device from the capsule type medical apparatus within the
body of the patient who is being examined, the communication
authorization signal creation section creates the communication
authorization signal which authorizes the transmission of the
information. In other words, by receiving the communication
confirmation signal, the communication authorization signal
creation section decides that the state of communication with the
capsule type medical apparatus is satisfactory, and performs
creation of the communication authorization signal. And the
communication authorization signal transmission device transmits
the communication authorization signal to the capsule type medical
apparatus. The capsule type medical apparatus transmits the
information when the communication authorization signal is
received. The information is received by the signal reception
device, and then is also recorded in the recording section.
[0222] In this manner, the communication authorization signal is
transmitted to the capsule type medical apparatus when, based upon
the communication confirmation signal, the state of communication
between the capsule type medical apparatus and the information
receiver is satisfactory, so that it is possible to obtain the
information. Furthermore, since the information such as, for
example, a plurality of image frames or the like is obtained when
the state of communication is satisfactory, the possibility that
the images which have been acquired be lost is small. Thus, it is
possible to obtain more accurate information.
[0223] The communication authorization signal may also serve as a
wireless signal which performs supply of electrical power to the
capsule type medical apparatus.
[0224] In this case, since it is possible to utilize the wireless
signal for supplying electrical power and the communication
authorization signal together, it is possible to perform the supply
of electrical power and the transmission of the communication
authorization signal by the same signal transmission device.
Therefore, the construction can be simple, and it is possible to
enhance the compactness.
[0225] When the communication confirmation signal is not received,
the communication authorization signal transmission device may
transmit the communication authorization signal over an interval
which is longer than the signal transmission interval of the
communication confirmation signal.
[0226] In this case, since the communication authorization signal
which also serves for supply of electrical power is transmitted,
and thus the electrical power is supplied in a timely manner to the
capsule type medical apparatus, over a interval which is longer
than the interval over which the communication confirmation signal
is transmitted, it is possible to prevent failure of transmission
of the communication confirmation signal due to cutoff of the
electrical power of the capsule type medical apparatus. Therefore,
it is possible to obtain the information in a reliable manner.
[0227] Accordingly, according to the first capsule type medical
apparatus communication system, the first capsule type medical
apparatus, and the information receiver of the present invention
which have been explained above, it becomes possible to perform the
transmission and/or the reception of the information when the state
of communication between the capsule type medical apparatus and the
information receiver is satisfactory.
[0228] Furthermore, when the state of communication is
unsatisfactory, in other words, when the information receiver is
not able to receive the information, there is no consumption of
electrical power due to transmission of useless images from the
capsule type medical apparatus. Moreover, since the information
such as, for example, a plurality of image frames or the like, is
transmitted when the state of communication is satisfactory, loss
by the information receiver of the images which have been acquired
is kept small, and the information is received in an efficient
manner. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the information in a
more accurate manner.
[0229] The second capsule type medical apparatus of the present
invention (which is termed the second capsule type medical
apparatus in order to distinguish it from the first capsule type
medical apparatus) includes, in a container which is introduced to
within the living body: an acquisition device which acquires
information about the interior of a living body; a signal
transmission device which transmits the information which has been
acquired by the acquisition device to outside the living body; a
sensor which detects information which specifies the position
and/or the attitude of the container within the living body; an
inference device which infers the state of communication with
outside the living body based upon the information which has been
detected by the sensor; and a signal transmission control device
which controls the signal transmission device, based upon the
results of inference by the inference device.
[0230] With the above described second capsule type medical
apparatus, after it has been introduced to within the living body
or the like, the information is acquired by the acquisition device
while it is shifting around within the living body. Furthermore,
since its own position and/or attitude are specified at the same
time as the information is being acquired, the information such as
the pH value or the like within the living body or the information
of the radio wave or the like from outside the living body is
detected and is sent to the inference device. The inference device
infers the state of communication with the exterior of the living
body based upon the information which has been sent and has
arrived. For example, if the information which has been sent and
has arrived from the sensor is a radio wave from outside the living
body, then, by comparing the magnitude of the radio wave when it
has been received with a threshold value which has been set in
advance, it is possible to infer whether or not it is possible to
communicate with outside the living body. The signal transmission
control device finally decides upon the state of communication with
outside of the living body, based upon the results of inference by
this type of inference device, and, if it has been decided that it
is possible to perform communication, it operates the signal
transmission device and transmits the information towards the
exterior of the living body.
[0231] While shifting about within the living body, the information
which has been acquired is transmitted to the outside of the living
body only when the state of communication with the outside of the
living body is satisfactory. Accordingly, it is possible to
transmit the information about the patient or the like reliably to
outside the living body. Furthermore, since the information which
has been acquired is not transmitted all at once at the end of
acquisition, but is transmitted to outside the living body at any
time when the position ensures a satisfactory state of
communication, accordingly, if a memory is provided for storing the
information, it is possible to keep the capacity of this memory
low, and it is possible to utilize the memory with good
efficiency.
[0232] As the sensor, a magnetic sensor which detects magnetic
direction may be employed.
[0233] In this case, it is possible to detect the magnetic
direction by the magnetic sensor from the magnetism of the earth,
or from a magnet which is disposed outside the living body, or the
like. In other words, it is possible for the sensor always to
detect the same direction within the living body, irrespective of
its own attitude. By this, it is possible for the inference device
to infer whether or not it is oriented in the desired direction, by
comparing together the direction which has been detected by the
magnetic sensor and a direction which has been set in advance, or
the like.
[0234] As the sensor, a gyro which detects the orientation of the
container may be employed.
[0235] In this case, it is possible always to detect the same fixed
direction within the living body. By doing this, it is possible for
the inference device to infer whether or not it is oriented in the
desired direction, by comparing together the direction which has
been detected by the gyro and a direction which has been set in
advance, or the like.
[0236] As the sensor, a gravity sensor which detects the direction
of gravity may be employed.
[0237] In this case, it is possible always to detect the direction
of gravity within the living body by the gravity sensor,
irrespective of its own attitude. By this, it is possible for the
inference device to infer whether or not it is oriented in the
desired direction, by comparing together the direction of gravity
and a direction which has been set in advance, or the like.
[0238] As the sensor, a luminance sensor which detects the
luminance within the living body may be employed.
[0239] In this case, since detection of change of luminance within
the living body can be detected by the luminance sensor, it is
possible for the inference device to infer that shifting toward a
desired position within the living body, by comparing together the
magnitude of the luminance which has been detected by the luminance
sensor and a threshold value which has been set in advance, or by
change in the pattern of the luminance, or the like.
[0240] As the sensor, a pH sensor which detects the pH value within
the living body may be employed.
[0241] In this case, since detection of change of the pH value
within the living body can be detected by the pH sensor, it is
possible for the inference device to infer that shifting toward a
desired position within the living body, by comparing together the
magnitude of the pH value which has been detected by the pH sensor
and a threshold value which has been set in advance, or by change
in the pattern of the pH value, or the like.
[0242] The second capsule type medical apparatus communication
system of the present invention (which is termed the second capsule
type medical apparatus communication system in order to distinguish
it from the first capsule type medical apparatus communication
system) includes the second capsule type medical apparatus, and an
antenna external to the living body, which is disposed outside the
living body, and which, along with transmitting a radio wave
towards within the living body, also receives the information which
is transmitted from the signal transmission device; and, here, the
sensor is a signal reception antenna which receives the radio wave
which is transmitted from the antenna external to the living
body.
[0243] In the above described second capsule type medical apparatus
communication system, the signal reception antenna receives the
radio wave which has been transmitted from the antenna external to
the living body, and then sends it to the inference device. The
inference device infers the state of communication based upon the
magnitude of the radio wave which has been transmitted and has
arrived. In other words, since the radio wave is sent out from the
antenna external to the living body at a high output level if the
capsule type medical apparatus has arrived at a position in which
the communication state is satisfactory, or if the matching with
the antenna external to the living body is satisfactory, the
inference device compares the magnitude of the radio wave which has
been sent and has arrived with a threshold value which is set in
advance, and infers that the communication state is satisfactory,
if it is greater than the threshold value. And, based upon the
results of the inference by the inference device, the signal
transmission control device operates the signal transmission device
to transmit the information to the antenna external to the living
body.
[0244] By doing this, it is possible to obtain the information from
the capsule type medical apparatus in a reliable manner even while
it is shifting about within the living body. In particular, it is
possible to obtain the information which has been acquired, not all
at once at the final end of its acquisition, but during the
shifting about within the living body, so that it is possible to
obtain the information in a reliable manner outside the living body
at any suitable time. By this, even if some problem arises, such as
for example that some of the information goes missing or the like,
it is possible to reduce the influence of the problem to the
minimum limit, since the information up to the point has been
obtained in a reliable manner, and accordingly it is possible to
enhance the reliability of inspection. Moreover, since it is not
necessary for the person such as the patient or the like who is the
subject of inspection always to keep the antenna external to his
body deployed, and it will be acceptable only to utilize the
antenna external to the living body at certain required times,
accordingly it is possible to reduce the burden imposed by the
inspection upon the person who is the subject of inspection.
[0245] The third capsule type medical apparatus communication
system of the present invention includes: the second capsule type
medical apparatus; an antenna external to the living body, which is
disposed outside the living body, and which receives the
information which is transmitted from the signal transmission
device; and an energy wave transmission device which is disposes in
the vicinity of the antenna external to the living body, and which
transmits an energy wave towards within the living body; and, here,
the sensor is an energy wave reception device which receives the
energy wave which has been transmitted from the energy wave
transmission device; and the signal transmission device performs
signal transmission using electrical power which has been converted
from the energy wave.
[0246] With this third capsule type medical apparatus communication
system, the energy wave reception device receives the energy wave
which has been transmitted from the energy wave transmission
device, and then sends it to the inference device. The inference
device infers the state of communication based upon the magnitude
of the energy wave which has been sent and has arrived. In other
words, the inference device compares the magnitude of the energy
wave which has been sent and has arrived with a threshold value
which is set in advance, and infers that the state of communication
is satisfactory if it is greater than the threshold value. And,
based upon the results of the inference by the inference device,
the signal transmission control device operates the signal
transmission device and transmits the information to the antenna
external to the living body. By doing this, it is possible to
obtain the information in a reliable manner from the capsule type
medical apparatus which is shifting about within the living body.
Furthermore, since the signal transmission device utilizes the
electrical power which has been converted from the energy wave
which has been sent and has arrived when transmitting the
information, even in the case in which a battery within the capsule
type medical apparatus cuts out, it is possible to obtain the
information which has been acquired up until that time point in a
reliable manner.
[0247] The fourth capsule type medical apparatus communication
system of the present invention includes: the second capsule type
medical apparatus, in which the sensor is a magnetic sensor; an
antenna external to the living body, which is disposed outside the
living body, and which receives the information which is
transmitted from the signal transmission device; and a magnet which
is arranged in a direction which is correlated with a signal
reception direction of the antenna external to the living body.
[0248] In this fourth capsule type medical apparatus communication
system, when the magnetic sensor passes to within the vicinity of
where the magnet is disposed, it detects the direction of the
magnet, irrespective of its own attitude. By this, the inference
device is able, by comparing together the direction of the magnet
from the magnetic sensor and a direction which is set in advance,
to infer that the signal transmission direction of the signal
transmission device is oriented in the direction of the magnet. In
other words, since the magnet is correlated with the signal
reception direction of the antenna external to the living body, the
inference device infers that the signal transmission direction of
the signal transmission device is oriented in the signal reception
direction of the antenna external to the living body. Accordingly,
it is possible to perform signal transmission at a time when the
state of communication is satisfactory, and it is possible to
obtain the information in a reliable manner from the capsule type
medical apparatus which is shifting about within the living
body.
[0249] The fifth capsule type medical apparatus communication
system of the present invention includes: the second capsule type
medical apparatus, in which the sensor is a gyro; and an antenna
external to the living body, which is disposed outside the living
body, and which, along with receiving the information which is
transmitted from the signal transmission device, also has a signal
reception direction in a predetermined direction.
[0250] In this fourth capsule type medical apparatus communication
system, when it moves within the living body, it is possible always
to detect a fixed direction by the gyro, irrespective of its own
attitude. By comparing together the direction which has been
detected by the gyro and a direction which is set in advance, the
inference device infers that the signal transmission direction of
the signal transmission device is oriented in the signal reception
direction of the antenna external to the living body, in other
words, that the matching with the antenna external to the living
body is good, and that the state of communication is in a
satisfactory state. Accordingly, it is possible to perform the
signal transmission when the state of communication is
satisfactory, and it is possible to obtain the information in a
reliable manner from the capsule type medical apparatus which is
shifting about within the living body.
[0251] The sixth capsule type medical apparatus communication
system of the present invention includes: the second capsule type
medical apparatus, in which the sensor is a luminance sensor; and
an antenna external to the living body, which is disposed outside
the living body, and which receives the information which is
transmitted from the signal transmission device.
[0252] In this sixth capsule type medical apparatus communication
system, when it moves about within the living body, the inference
device infers that it is positioned at a specific region within the
living body from the detected value from the luminance sensor. For
example, by taking a luminance value or a pH value which is
characteristic of the stomach as a threshold value for which the
state of communication is comparatively satisfactory, it may infer
that the capsule type medical apparatus is currently positioned
within the stomach of the patient. By this, it is possible to
obtain the information in a reliable manner from the capsule type
medical apparatus which is shifting about within the living
body.
[0253] In the above described second through sixth capsule type
medical apparatus communication systems of the present invention,
the antenna external to the living body may be arranged in a state
in which it is separated from the surface of the body by a
predetermined interval distance.
[0254] In this case, since the antenna external to the living body
is kept at the predetermined interval distance from the body of the
person undergoing the examination, it is difficult for it to
experience any influence due to the impedance of the living body.
Accordingly, it is possible to maintain the state of communication
with the capsule type medical apparatus within the living body at a
more satisfactory state.
[0255] Furthermore, the antenna external to the living body may
shift in a state in which the interval is maintained.
[0256] In this case, since the antenna external to the living body
can be shifted in correspondence to the shifting of the capsule
type medical apparatus within the living body, and since a single
antenna external to the living body can be used for searching the
range in which the state of communication is satisfactory over a
wide range, accordingly, it is possible to reduce the number of
antennas external to the living body which need to be provided, and
it is possible to utilize them in a more efficient manner.
[0257] Thus, according to the above described second capsule type
medical apparatus and the above described second through sixth
capsule type medical apparatus communication systems of the present
invention, since, when acquiring the information in the living
body, the inference device infers whether or not the state of
communication is satisfactory, based upon the magnitude of the
radio wave which has been transmitted from the antenna external to
the living body, and the signal transmission control device makes
the final decision and operates the signal transmission section
based upon the result of this inference, therefore, the information
is transmitted to the outside of the living body only when the
state of communication is satisfactory. Accordingly, it is possible
to enhance the reliability of the inspection, since it is possible
to obtain the information from within the living body in a reliable
manner.
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